Provided is an R—Fe—B-based sintered magnet which has a composition comprising R (wherein R represents at least one element selected from rare earth elements, and essentially contains Nd), B, M (wherein M represents at least one element selected from Si, Al, Mn, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, Pd, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Pt, Au, Hg, Pb and Bi), X (wherein X represents at least one element selected from Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, V and Ta) and C, with a remainder comprising Fe, O and unavoidable impurities, and has a main phase comprising R.sub.2Fe.sub.14B and a grain boundary phase comprising an R—C phase having a higher R concentration and a higher C concentration than those in the main phase, the R—Fe—B-based sintered magnet being characterized in that the area ratio of the R—C phase in a cross section of the magnet is more than 0% and 0.5% or less.

The purpose of the present invention is to achieve both high residual flux density and high coercivity, which are conventionally mutually exclusive characteristics, in an R—Fe—B sintered magnet. The present invention provides an R—Fe—B sintered magnet characterized by having a composition which contains R (R is one or more elements selected from among the rare-earth elements but must be Nd), B. X (X is one or more elements selected from among Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, V, and Ta), and C, with the remainder comprising Fe, O, other arbitrary elements, and unavoidable impurities. The R—Fe—B sintered magnet is also characterized by satisfying relational expression (1), where [B], [C], [X], and [O] are the atomic percentages of B, C, X, and O, respectively.

0.86×([B]+[C]−2×[X])−4.9<[O]<0.86×([B]+[C]−2×[X])−4.6   (1).

The purpose of the present invention is to achieve both high residual flux density and high coercivity, which are conventionally mutually exclusive characteristics, in an R—Fe—B sintered magnet. The present invention provides an R—Fe—B sintered magnet characterized by having a composition which contains R (R is one or more elements selected from among the rare-earth elements but must be Nd), B. X (X is one or more elements selected from among Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, V, and Ta), and C, with the remainder comprising Fe, O, other arbitrary elements, and unavoidable impurities. The R—Fe—B sintered magnet is also characterized by satisfying relational expression (1), where [B], [C], [X], and [O] are the atomic percentages of B, C, X, and O, respectively.

0.86×([B]+[C]−2×[X])−4.9<[O]<0.86×([B]+[C]−2×[X])−4.6   (1).

A neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnet, a preparation method and use thereof are disclosed. The neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnet has a composition represented by formula I: [mHR(1-m) (Pr.sub.25Nd.sub.75)].sub.x(Fe.sub.100-a-b-c-dM.sub.aGa.sub.bIn.sub.cSn.sub.d).sub.100-x-yB.sub.y formula I; where a is 0.995-3.493, b is 0.114-0.375, c is 0.028-0.125, d is 0.022-0.100; x is 29.05-30.94, y is 0.866-1.000; m is 0.02-0.05; HR is Dy and/or Tb; M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Co, Cu, Ti, Al, Nb, Zr, Ni, W and Mo.

A neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnet, a preparation method and use thereof are disclosed. The neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnet has a composition represented by formula I: [mHR(1-m) (Pr.sub.25Nd.sub.75)].sub.x(Fe.sub.100-a-b-c-dM.sub.aGa.sub.bIn.sub.cSn.sub.d).sub.100-x-yB.sub.y formula I; where a is 0.995-3.493, b is 0.114-0.375, c is 0.028-0.125, d is 0.022-0.100; x is 29.05-30.94, y is 0.866-1.000; m is 0.02-0.05; HR is Dy and/or Tb; M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Co, Cu, Ti, Al, Nb, Zr, Ni, W and Mo.

Disclosed are a continuous heat treatment device and method for a sintered Nd—Fe—B magnet workpiece. The device comprises a first heat treatment chamber, a first cooling chamber, a second heat treatment chamber, and a second cooling chamber continuously disposed in sequence, as well as a transfer system disposed among the chambers to transfer the alloy workpiece or the metal workpiece; both the first cooling chamber and the second cooling chamber adopt a air cooling system, wherein a cooling air temperature of the first cooling chamber is 25° C. or above and differs from a heat treatment temperature of the first heat treatment chamber by at least 450° C.; a cooling air temperature of the second cooling chamber is 25° C. or above and differs from a heat treatment temperature of the second heat treatment chamber by at least 300° C. The continuous heat treatment device and method can improve the cooling rate and production efficiency and improve the properties and consistency of the products.

Disclosed are a continuous heat treatment device and method for a sintered Nd—Fe—B magnet workpiece. The device comprises a first heat treatment chamber, a first cooling chamber, a second heat treatment chamber, and a second cooling chamber continuously disposed in sequence, as well as a transfer system disposed among the chambers to transfer the alloy workpiece or the metal workpiece; both the first cooling chamber and the second cooling chamber adopt a air cooling system, wherein a cooling air temperature of the first cooling chamber is 25° C. or above and differs from a heat treatment temperature of the first heat treatment chamber by at least 450° C.; a cooling air temperature of the second cooling chamber is 25° C. or above and differs from a heat treatment temperature of the second heat treatment chamber by at least 300° C. The continuous heat treatment device and method can improve the cooling rate and production efficiency and improve the properties and consistency of the products.

A hydrogenation-dehydrogenation method for a TiAl alloy includes performing hydrogenation treatment of the TiAl alloy in an environment of a set temperature equal to or higher than a temperature at which phase transformation to a β phase starts; and performing dehydrogenation treatment of the TiAl alloy which has been subjected to the hydrogenation treatment. The set temperature ranges from 1,100° C. to 1,600° C.

A hydrogenation-dehydrogenation method for a TiAl alloy includes performing hydrogenation treatment of the TiAl alloy in an environment of a set temperature equal to or higher than a temperature at which phase transformation to a β phase starts; and performing dehydrogenation treatment of the TiAl alloy which has been subjected to the hydrogenation treatment. The set temperature ranges from 1,100° C. to 1,600° C.

To provide a titanium-based porous body that has high void fraction to ensure gas permeability and water permeability for practical use as an electrode and a filter, has a large specific surface area to ensure conductivity and sufficient reaction sites with a reaction solution or a reaction gas, thus showing excellent reaction efficiency, and contains less contaminants because of no organic substance used. A titanium-based porous body having a specific void fraction and a high specific surface area is obtained by filling an irregular-shaped titanium powder having an average particle size of 10 to 50 μm in a dry system without using any binder or the like into a thickness of 4.0×10.sup.−1 to 1.6 mm, and sintering the irregular-shaped titanium powder at 800 to 1100° C.