Provided are a highly thermostable rare-earth permanent magnetic material, a preparation method thereof and a magnet containing the same. A composition of the rare-earth permanent magnetic material by an atomic percentage is as follows: SM.sub.xR.sub.aFe.sub.100-x-y-z-aM.sub.yN.sub.z, wherein R is at least one of Zr and Hf, M is at least one of Co, Ti, Nb, Cr, V, Mo, Si, Ga, Ni, Mn and Al, x+a is 7-10%, a is 0-1.5%, y is 0-5% and z is 10-14%.

An alloy powder manufacturing apparatus includes a substrate, at least one nozzle, and at least one alloy supply part. The nozzle forms a liquid film having a predetermined thickness by supplying a high-speed fluid formed from a cooling liquid onto the substrate in such a manner as to apply a predetermined acceleration to the liquid film along a thickness direction. The alloy supply part supplies a molten alloy to the liquid film without dividing same into a size equal to or less than a predetermined thickness. Particles are formed by dividing the molten alloy into a size equal to or less than the predetermined thickness by means of the high-speed fluid, and the particles are cooled in a condition in which the particles are retained in the liquid film by means of the predetermined acceleration and kept in contact with the high-speed fluid.

The invention provides rare earth-free permanent magnetic materials and methods of making them. The materials can be used to produce magnetic structures for use in a wide variety of commercial applications, such as motors, generators, and other electromechanical and electronic devices. Magnets fabricated using the materials can be substituted for magnets requiring rare earth elements that are costly and in limited supply. The invention provides two different types of magnetic materials. The first type is based on an iron-nickel alloy that is doped with one or more doping elements to promote the formation of L1.sub.0 crystal structure. The second type is a nanocomposite particle containing magnetically hard and soft phases that interact to form an exchange spring magnetic material. The hard phase contains Fe or FeCo, and the soft phase contains AlMnC.

A nozzle, a tundish arrangement used for the production of granulated material, and a method and apparatus for the production of a granulated material with an improved size distribution are provided. The grain size and grain size distribution is controlled by a nozzle having a specific design. The nozzle comprises an upper inlet opening, sidewalls forming a channel, a bottom and at least one outlet opening or at least one row of outlet openings at the lower end of the channel. The outlet opening(s) in the channel have a size of at least 5 mm in the smallest dimension. A cross sectional area of the channel at the inlet A.sub.C is at least 3 times bigger than the total area of the outlet openings A.sub.T.

A metal powder contains not less than 0.10 mass % and not more than 1.00 mass % of at least one of chromium and silicon, and a balance of copper. The total content of the chromium and the silicon is not more than 1.00 mass %. In accordance with an additive manufacturing method for this metal powder, an additively-manufactured article made from a copper alloy is provided. The additively-manufactured article has both an adequate mechanical strength and an adequate electrical conductivity.

A metal powder contains not less than 0.10 mass % and not more than 1.00 mass % of at least one of chromium and silicon, and a balance of copper. The total content of the chromium and the silicon is not more than 1.00 mass %. In accordance with an additive manufacturing method for this metal powder, an additively-manufactured article made from a copper alloy is provided. The additively-manufactured article has both an adequate mechanical strength and an adequate electrical conductivity.

A soft magnetic powder of the invention has a composition represented by Fe.sub.100-a-b-c-d-e-fCu.sub.aSi.sub.bB.sub.cM.sub.dM.sub.eX.sub.f (at %) [wherein M is Nb, W, Ta, Zr, Hf, Ti, or Mo, M is V, Cr, Mn, Al, a platinum group element, Sc, Y, Au, Zn, Sn, or Re, X is C, P, Ge, Ga, Sb, In, Be, or As, and a, b, c, d, e, and f are numbers that satisfy the following formulae: 0.1a3, 0<b30, 0<c25, 5b+c30, 0.1d30, 0e10, and 0f10], wherein a crystalline structure having a particle diameter of 1 nm or more and 30 nm or less is contained in an amount of 40 vol % or more, and the difference in the coercive force of the powder after classification satisfies predetermined conditions.

A soft magnetic powder of the invention has a composition represented by Fe.sub.100-a-b-c-d-e-fCu.sub.aSi.sub.bB.sub.cM.sub.dM.sub.eX.sub.f (at %) [wherein M is Nb, W, Ta, Zr, Hf, Ti, or Mo, M is V, Cr, Mn, Al, a platinum group element, Sc, Y, Au, Zn, Sn, or Re, X is C, P, Ge, Ga, Sb, In, Be, or As, and a, b, c, d, e, and f are numbers that satisfy the following formulae: 0.1a3, 0<b30, 0<c25, 5b+c30, 0.1d30, 0e10, and 0f10], wherein a crystalline structure having a particle diameter of 1 nm or more and 30 nm or less is contained in an amount of 40 vol % or more, and the difference in the coercive force of the powder after classification satisfies predetermined conditions.