Study on the microstructure and magnetic properties of rapidly quenched Sm(Co1-xCux)5 alloys

The approach to saturation magnetization of the as-quenched Sm(Co1-xCux)(5) alloys has been studied using superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry with a maximum field of 55 kOe. The magnetic anisotropy, K-u, has been determined using the law of approach to saturation magnetization. As the Cu content increases from x = 0 to x = 0.5, K-u decreases from 1.61 x 10(6) to 1.12 x 10(6) erg/cm(3). The microstructural observations and the measurements of coercivity show that the magnetization reversal in these alloys is controlled by both the nucleation and pinning mechanisms.