The present invention relates to an alloy with formula of RE-M-B—Fe as defined herein and oxygen content less than 0.9 wt %, wherein said RE is in the range of 29.0 weight % to 33.0 weight %; M is in the range of 0.25 weight % to 1.0 weight %; B is in the range of 0.8 weight % to 1.1 weight %; and Fe makes up the balance. The present invention also relates to a method for preparing a RE-M-Fe—B magnetic powder, as defined herein comprising the steps of: (a) melt spinning a RE-M-Fe—B alloy composition to obtain a melt-spun powder; (b) pressing the melt-spun powder of step (a) to obtain a compact body; (c) hot deforming the compact body of step (b) to obtain a die-upset magnet; (d) crushing the die-upset magnet of step (c) to obtain a powder; (e) milling and sieving the powder of step (d); and (f) passivating the powder of step (e) to obtain a magnetic powder; wherein: each of steps (d) to (f) is performed under a low oxygen environment and transfer between each of steps (d) to (f) is a sealed transfer; and wherein the oxygen content of the low oxygen environment and during each sealed transfer is below 0.5 weight %.

A method of producing a SmFeN-based anisotropic magnetic powder is provided, the method including preparing a SmFeN-based anisotropic magnetic powder before dispersing comprising Sm, Fe, W, and N, and dispersing the SmFeN-based anisotropic magnetic powder before dispersing using a resin-coated metal media or a resin-coated ceramic media to obtain a SmFeN-based anisotropic magnetic powder. Also provided is a SmFeN-based anisotropic magnetic powder comprising Sm, Fe, W, and N and having an average particle size of less than 2.5 μm, a residual magnetization σr of not less than 130 emu/g, and an oxygen content of not higher than 0.75% by mass.

A method of producing a SmFeN-based anisotropic magnetic powder is provided, the method including preparing a SmFeN-based anisotropic magnetic powder before dispersing comprising Sm, Fe, W, and N, and dispersing the SmFeN-based anisotropic magnetic powder before dispersing using a resin-coated metal media or a resin-coated ceramic media to obtain a SmFeN-based anisotropic magnetic powder. Also provided is a SmFeN-based anisotropic magnetic powder comprising Sm, Fe, W, and N and having an average particle size of less than 2.5 μm, a residual magnetization σr of not less than 130 emu/g, and an oxygen content of not higher than 0.75% by mass.

A laser treatment system and method for imparting beneficial residual stresses into a desired part during production thereof by a Selective Laser Sintering or Melting (SLS/SLM) process, the method including repeatedly subjecting the part to an in-situ Laser Shock Peening (LSP) treatment during the SLS/SLM process. The in-situ LSP treatment includes selectively bringing an LSP module in contact with a surface of the part during the SLS/SLM process, and subjecting the LSP module to the action of a first laser beam to impart beneficial residual stresses into the part. The LSP module is movable between a building chamber where the part is being produced for the purpose of carrying out the in-situ LSP treatment, and a separate storage chamber when the LSP module is not used for the purpose of carrying out the in-situ LSP treatment. The invention is also implementable in a corresponding additive manufacturing system and method.

A method for producing a sintered component, in particular an annular sintered component, with a toothing, having teeth with tooth roots, tooth tips and tooth flanks, includes the steps of pressing a powder to form a green compact, sintering the green compact, and hardening the sintered component, wherein after sintering, the tooth flanks and possibly the tooth tips are post-compacted and subsequently undergo post-processing by machining, and wherein a transition region between the tooth flanks and the tooth roots has an undercut design, and post-compaction of the tooth flanks is carried out only up to this transition region.

A method for producing a sintered component, in particular an annular sintered component, with a toothing, having teeth with tooth roots, tooth tips and tooth flanks, includes the steps of pressing a powder to form a green compact, sintering the green compact, and hardening the sintered component, wherein after sintering, the tooth flanks and possibly the tooth tips are post-compacted and subsequently undergo post-processing by machining, and wherein a transition region between the tooth flanks and the tooth roots has an undercut design, and post-compaction of the tooth flanks is carried out only up to this transition region.

Methods of fabricating objects using additive manufacturing are provided. The methods create in situ dispersoids within the object. The methods are used with refractory alloy powders which are pretreated to increase the oxygen content to between 500 ppm and 3000 ppm or to increase the nitrogen content to between 250 ppm and 1500 ppm. The pretreated powders are then formed into layers in an environmentally controlled chamber of an additive manufacturing machine. The environmentally controlled chamber is adjusted to have between 500 ppm and 200 ppm oxygen. The layer of pretreated powder is then exposed to a transient moving energy source for melting and solidifying the layer; and creating in situ dispersoids in the layer.

Methods of fabricating objects using additive manufacturing are provided. The methods create in situ dispersoids within the object. The methods are used with refractory alloy powders which are pretreated to increase the oxygen content to between 500 ppm and 3000 ppm or to increase the nitrogen content to between 250 ppm and 1500 ppm. The pretreated powders are then formed into layers in an environmentally controlled chamber of an additive manufacturing machine. The environmentally controlled chamber is adjusted to have between 500 ppm and 200 ppm oxygen. The layer of pretreated powder is then exposed to a transient moving energy source for melting and solidifying the layer; and creating in situ dispersoids in the layer.

Techniques are disclosed for milling an iron-containing raw material in the presence of a nitrogen source to generate anisotropically shaped particles that include iron nitride and have an aspect ratio of at least 1.4. Techniques for nitridizing an anisotropic particle including iron, and annealing an anisotropic particle including iron nitride to form at least one α″-Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 phase domain within the anisotropic particle including iron nitride also are disclosed. In addition, techniques for aligning and joining anisotropic particles to form a bulk material including iron nitride, such as a bulk permanent magnet including at least one α″-Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 phase domain, are described. Milling apparatuses utilizing elongated bars, an electric field, and a magnetic field also are disclosed.

Techniques are disclosed for milling an iron-containing raw material in the presence of a nitrogen source to generate anisotropically shaped particles that include iron nitride and have an aspect ratio of at least 1.4. Techniques for nitridizing an anisotropic particle including iron, and annealing an anisotropic particle including iron nitride to form at least one α″-Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 phase domain within the anisotropic particle including iron nitride also are disclosed. In addition, techniques for aligning and joining anisotropic particles to form a bulk material including iron nitride, such as a bulk permanent magnet including at least one α″-Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 phase domain, are described. Milling apparatuses utilizing elongated bars, an electric field, and a magnetic field also are disclosed.