Magnetic hardening mechanism of PrCo5-based ribbons with C addition prepared by melt spinning

The effect of C addition on texture, phase formation, and magnetic properties of PrCo_{5 -x}C_x(x = 0 - 0.5) ribbons has been examined. C addition does not favor the formation of (200) texture perpendicular to the ribbon plane for the ribbons spun at 5 m s^-1. As x increases, the fraction of PrC₂ nonmagnetic phase increases, which enhances the resistance of domain wall movement and thus leads to an obvious coercivity increase in the specimens. The increase in the wheel speed further strengthens the beneficial effect of C addition on the magnetic properties of the PrCo₅-based ribbons. When the wheel speed is increased to 25 m s^-1, the coercivity and the energy product of the ribbons increase from 1.6 kOe and 1.6 MGOe to 6.7 kOe and 4.3 MGOe with the increase of x from 0 to 0.5. Simultaneously, the coercivity mechanism changes from the reverse domain nucleation type to the domain wall pinning type.