Microstructural Observation on NdFeB Magnets During Pretreatments
摘要
The recovery of rare earth elementsRare earth elements suchPretreatments as Nd, Dy, and Tb from spent NdFeB magnetsNdFeB magnets would be critical in solving the supply risk issue. For the selective leachingLeaching, the improvement in leachingLeaching rate as well as leachingLeaching selectivity is needed to be used in industries. HydrogenationHydrogenation process, especially conducted at 850 °C, was introduced prior to thermal oxidationThermal oxidation as it would help the oxidation kinetic and thus final microstructure for the selective leachingLeaching. The hydrogenationHydrogenation mainly occurred along with grain boundaries as well as powder surface, and with the hydrogenationHydrogenation, the lamellar structure became the coarsened and granular structure. The thermal oxidationThermal oxidation at 660 °C resulted in the Nd2O3-Fe2O3 phase system, while the simple thermal oxidationThermal oxidation made the NdFeO3 formed due to the high temperature. Interestingly, the pre-formed Nd hydride exerted a significant impact on the microstructure in terms of Nd oxide size, which was a good aspect in improving leachingLeaching rate.