Saturation magnetization and coercive force of Alnico 5 and other magnet alloys with similar compositions are measured at elevated temperatures by means of an astatic magnetometer. The
I-
T curves obtained reveal that these alloys consist of two kinds of ferromagnetic phases, α
1 and α
2, after appropriate heat-treatment. It is found that Curie point of the less ferromagnetic phase α
2 changes considerably with aging temperature. These results are also discussed from the standpoint of an equilibrium diagram and the phase relation. Each of the
Hc-
T curves obtained shows a striking maximum at a certain temperature, which corresponds to the Curie point of the α
2 phase contained in the alloy. Particularly for a commercial alloy of Alnico 5 aged at about 600°C, the Curie point of the α
2 phase lies in the neighbourhood of room temperature, so that a maximum value of the coercive force can conveniently be obtained at room temperature. Furthermore, a theoretical approach is proposed to estimate the coercive force for such a two-phase alloy. This may satisfactorily explain the characteristic feature of the observed
Hc–
T curve, and may elucidate that the coercive force of Alnico 5 largely depends upon the magnetization of the less ferromagnetic matrix.
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