METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING MAGNETIC PARTICLES, MAGNETIC PARTICLES, AND MAGNETIC BODY

Abstract

Provided is a method for manufacturing magnetic particles, in which an oxidation treatment, a reduction treatment, and a nitriding treatment are performed in that order on raw material particles with a core-shell structure in which a silicon oxide layer is formed on the surfaces of iron microparticles, thereby nitriding the iron microparticles while maintaining the core-shell structure. Due to this configuration, granular magnetic particles with a core-shell structure in which a silicon oxide layer is formed on the surfaces of iron nitride microparticles can be obtained.

Claims

1. A magnetic particle manufacturing method, comprising: an oxidation treatment step of subjecting raw particles each having a core-shell structure in which a silicon oxide layer is formed on a surface of an iron fine particle to oxidation treatment; a reduction treatment step of subjecting the raw particles having undergone the oxidation treatment to reduction treatment; and a nitridation treatment step of subjecting the raw particles having undergone the reduction treatment to nitridation treatment to nitride iron fine particles with the core-shell structure being maintained.

2. The magnetic particle manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the oxidation treatment is performed on the raw particles in air at 100 C. to 500 C. for 1 to 20 hours.

3. The magnetic particle manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the reduction treatment is performed at 100 C. to 500 C. for 1 to 20 hours as mixed gas of hydrogen gas and nitrogen gas is supplied to the raw particles.

4. The magnetic particle manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the nitridation treatment is performed at 140 C. to 200 C. for 3 to 50 hours as nitrogen element-containing gas is supplied to the raw particles.

5. The magnetic particle manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the raw particles take on a spherical shape and have a particle size of less than 200 nm.

6. Magnetic particles being spherical particles each having a core-shell structure in which a silicon oxide layer is formed on a surface of an iron nitride fine particle, wherein the iron nitride fine particle is composed of Fe.sub.16N.sub.2.

7. A magnetic body formed using spherical particles each having a core-shell structure in which a silicon oxide layer is formed on a surface of an iron nitride fine particle, wherein the iron nitride fine particle is composed of Fe.sub.16N.sub.2.

8. The magnetic particle manufacturing method according to claim 2, wherein the reduction treatment is performed at 100 C. to 500 C. for 1 to 20 hours as mixed gas of hydrogen gas and nitrogen gas is supplied to the raw particles.

9. The magnetic particle manufacturing method according to claim 2, wherein the nitridation treatment is performed at 140 C. to 200 C. for 3 to 50 hours as nitrogen element-containing gas is supplied to the raw particles.

10. The magnetic particle manufacturing method according to claim 3, wherein the nitridation treatment is performed at 140 C. to 200 C. for 3 to 50 hours as nitrogen element-containing gas is supplied to the raw particles.

11. The magnetic particle manufacturing method according to claim 8, wherein the nitridation treatment is performed at 140 C. to 200 C. for 3 to 50 hours as nitrogen element-containing gas is supplied to the raw particles.

12. The magnetic particle manufacturing method according to claim 2, wherein the raw particles take on a spherical shape and have a particle size of less than 200 nm.

13. The magnetic particle manufacturing method according to claim 3, wherein the raw particles take on a spherical shape and have a particle size of less than 200 nm.

14. The magnetic particle manufacturing method according to claim 4, wherein the raw particles take on a spherical shape and have a particle size of less than 200 nm.

15. The magnetic particle manufacturing method according to claim 8, wherein the raw particles take on a spherical shape and have a particle size of less than 200 nm.

16. The magnetic particle manufacturing method according to claim 9, wherein the raw particles take on a spherical shape and have a particle size of less than 200 nm.

17. The magnetic particle manufacturing method according to claim 10, wherein the raw particles take on a spherical shape and have a particle size of less than 200 nm.

18. The magnetic particle manufacturing method according to claim 11, wherein the raw particles take on a spherical shape and have a particle size of less than 200 nm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] [FIG. 1](a) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a magnetic particle of the invention, and (b) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a raw particle.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a method of manufacturing magnetic particles of the invention.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a graph showing an example of magnetic hysteresis curves (B-H curves) of magnetic particles and raw particles.

[0025] [FIG. 4](a) is a graph showing a result of crystal structure analysis by X-ray diffractometry made on raw particles having yet to undergo treatment; (b) is a graph showing a result of crystal structure analysis by X-ray diffractometry made on the raw particles having undergone oxidation treatment; and (c) is a graph showing a result of crystal structure analysis by X-ray diffractometry made on magnetic particles obtained through, after the oxidation treatment, reduction treatment and then nitridation treatment.

[0026] FIG. 5 includes images corresponding to FIG. 4(a) to FIG. 4(c). (a) is a schematic view showing a TEM image of the raw particles having yet to undergo treatment; (b) is an enlarged view of FIG. 5(a); (c) is a schematic view showing a TEM image of the raw particles having undergone oxidation treatment; (d) is an enlarged view of FIG. 5(c); (e) is a schematic view showing a TEM image of the magnetic particles; and (f) is an enlarged view of FIG. 5(e).

[0027] [FIG. 6](a) and (b) are graphs showing results of crystal structure analysis by X-ray diffractometry made on raw particles having undergone nitridation treatment; (c) is a graph showing a result of crystal structure analysis by X-ray diffractometry made on Fe16N2 serving as a reference; (d) is a graph showing a result of crystal structure analysis by X-ray diffractometry made on the raw particles having yet to undergo nitridation treatment; and (e) is an enlarged view of an important portion of FIG. 6(b).

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0028] A method for manufacturing magnetic particles, magnetic particles and magnetic body according to the invention are described below in detail with reference to preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0029] FIG. 1(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a magnetic particle of the invention, and FIG. 1(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a raw particle. FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a method of manufacturing magnetic particles of the invention. FIG. 3 is a graph showing an example of magnetic hysteresis curves (B-H curves) of magnetic particles and raw particles.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 1(a), a magnetic particle 10 of this embodiment is a spherical particle having a core-shell structure in which a silicon oxide layer (SiO.sub.2 layer) 14 (shell) is formed on the surface of an iron nitride fine particle 12 (core).

[0031] The magnetic particle 10 is a spherical particle having a particle size of about 50 nm and preferably of 5 to 50 nm. The particle size is obtained by converting a measurement value of the specific surface area.

[0032] In the magnetic particle 10, the iron nitride fine particle 12 exerts magnetic properties. Among iron nitrides, Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 having excellent magnetic properties is most preferred in terms of magnetic properties such as coercive force. Therefore, it is most preferable that the fine particle 12 be constituted by an Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 single phase. When the fine particle 12 is constituted by the Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 single phase, the magnetic particle 10 is also referred to as Fe.sub.16N.sub.2/SiO.sub.2 composite fine particle.

[0033] The fine particle 12 is not limited to the Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 single phase and may have the composition having another iron nitride included therein.

[0034] The silicon oxide layer 14 serves to electrically insulate the fine particle 12, prevent the fine particle 12 from coming into contact with another magnetic particle or the like and inhibit oxidation or the like of the iron nitride fine particle 12. The silicon oxide layer 14 is an insulator.

[0035] Owing to the iron nitride fine particle 12, the magnetic particle 10 has a high coercive force and excellent magnetic properties. As will be described in detail later, when the fine particle 12 is composed of the Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 single phase, the coercive force is to be, for instance, 1700 Oe (about 135.3 kA/m). The magnetic particle 10 also has excellent dispersibility.

[0036] In the magnetic particle 10, the silicon oxide layer 14, which is an insulator, serves to prevent electric current from flowing between magnetic particles 10, thereby reducing or preventing damage caused by electric current.

[0037] A magnetic body formed using such magnetic particles 10 has a high coercive force and excellent magnetic properties. One example of the magnetic body is a bonded magnet.

[0038] Next, a method for manufacturing the magnetic particles 10 is described.

[0039] To manufacture the magnetic particles 10, raw particles 20, one of which is shown in FIG. 1(b), are prepared.

[0040] Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the raw particles 20 are subjected to oxidation treatment to oxidize iron (Fe) fine particles 22 (Step S10). Subsequently, the raw particles 20 are subjected to reduction treatment to reduce the oxidized iron (Fe) fine particles 22 (Step S12). Thereafter, the raw particles 20 are subjected to nitridation treatment to nitride the reduced iron (Fe) fine particles 22 (Step S14). The magnetic particles 10 having the iron nitride fine particles 12 can be thus manufactured.

[0041] The raw particles 20 each have a core-shell structure in which a silicon oxide layer 24 is formed on the surface of the iron (Fe) fine particle 22. The raw particle 20 is also referred to as Fe/SiO.sub.2 particle.

[0042] The raw particle 20 is a spherical particle having a particle size of about 50 nm and preferably 5 to 50 nm. The particle size is obtained by converting a measurement value of the specific surface area.

[0043] As described above, the iron fine particles 22 are oxidized in the oxidation treatment step (Step S10), subsequently the oxidized iron fine particles 22 are reduced in the reduction treatment step (Step S12), and then the iron fine particles 22 are nitrided in the nitridation treatment step (Step S14), thereby obtaining fine particles composed of iron nitride and most preferably of Fe.sub.16N.sub.2. In this regard, the silicon oxide layer 24 is a stable substance which does not change through oxidation treatment, reduction treatment or nitridation treatment. Thus, the iron fine particles 22, which are cores, are oxidized, reduced and nitrided to be changed into the iron nitride fine particles 12 with the core-shell structure being maintained, to thereby obtain the magnetic particles 10 of FIG. 1(a).

[0044] As described later, the magnetic particles 10 thus manufactured are free from aggregation and have high dispersibility.

[0045] In the present invention, the magnetic particles 10 can be manufactured by subjecting the raw particles 20 to oxidation treatment, reduction treatment and nitridation treatment.

[0046] Methods of oxidation treatment include a method in which: the raw particles 20 are put into, for example, a glass container; air is supplied into this container; and the raw particles 20 are subjected to oxidation treatment in air at 100 C. to 500 C. for 1 to 20 hours. More preferably, oxidation treatment is performed at 200 C. to 400 C. for 1 to 10 hours.

[0047] At an oxidation treatment temperature of less than 100 C., the degree of oxidation is not sufficient. At an oxidation treatment temperature in excess of 500 C., the raw particles are fused. In addition, the oxidation reaction is saturated so that the oxidation does not progress any more.

[0048] With an oxidation treatment time of less than 1 hour, the degree of oxidation is not sufficient. With an oxidation treatment time in excess of 20 hours, the raw particles are fused. In addition, the oxidation reaction is saturated so that the oxidation does not progress any more.

[0049] Methods of reduction treatment include a method in which: the raw particles 20 having undergone the oxidation treatment are put into, for example, a glass container; mixed gas of H.sub.2 gas (hydrogen gas) and N.sub.2 gas (nitrogen gas) is supplied into this container; and the raw particles 20 are subjected to reduction treatment in the atmosphere of the mixed gas at 200 C. to 500 C. for 1 to 50 hours. More preferably, reduction treatment is performed at 200 C. to 400 C. for 1 to 30 hours.

[0050] The upper-limit concentration of the hydrogen gas in the mixed gas is about 4 vol % (that is, lower than the flammability limit).

[0051] Methods of reduction treatment also include a method using H.sub.2 gas (hydrogen gas) alone, other than the foregoing method using the mixed gas. In other words, reduction treatment may be carried out with a hydrogen gas concentration of 100 vol %. A lower hydrogen gas concentration is preferred for ease of handling.

[0052] At a reduction treatment temperature of less than 200 C., the degree of reduction is not sufficient. At a reduction treatment temperature in excess of 500 C., the raw particles are fused while the reduction reaction is saturated so that the reduction does not progress any more.

[0053] With a reduction treatment time of less than 1 hour, the degree of reduction is not sufficient. With a reduction treatment time in excess of 50 hours, the raw particles are fused while the reduction reaction is saturated so that the reduction does not progress any more.

[0054] Methods of nitridation treatment include a method in which: the raw particles 20 are put into, for example, a glass container; nitrogen element-containing gas such as NH.sub.3 gas (ammonia gas) is supplied as a nitrogen source into this container; and the raw particles 20 are subjected to nitridation treatment in the presence of the NH.sub.3 gas (ammonia gas) at 140 C. to 200 C. for 3 to 50 hours. More preferably, nitridation treatment is performed at 140 C. to 160 C. for 3 to 20 hours.

[0055] At a nitridation treatment temperature of less than 140 C., the degree of nitridation is not sufficient. At a nitridation treatment temperature in excess of 200 C., the raw particles are fused while the nitridation is saturated.

[0056] The nitridation treatment time is preferably 3 to 50 hours. At a nitridation treatment time of less than 3 hours, the degree of nitridation is not sufficient. At a nitridation treatment time in excess of 50 hours, the raw particles are fused while the nitridation is saturated.

[0057] While the raw particles 20 of FIG. 1(b) are used as a raw material as described above, the invention is not limited thereto. The raw material may be a mixture of the raw particles 20 and another type of particles. Another type of particles have a size substantially the same as that of the raw particles 20 and each have a core-shell structure in which an iron oxide layer is formed on the surface of an iron (Fe) fine particle. The iron oxide is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 and Fe.sub.3O.sub.4.

[0058] It has been confirmed that when the above-described oxidation treatment step, reduction treatment step and nitridation treatment step are performed with the use of the mixture of the raw particles 20 and another type of particles as a raw material, with the proportion of the other type of particles being about 50 vol %, the magnetic particles 10 of FIG. 1(a) are of course manufacture, and in addition, magnetic particles each having a core-shell structure in which an iron oxide layer (shell) is formed on the surface of an iron nitride fine particle (core) are manufactured. It has been also confirmed that the foregoing magnetic particles having the iron oxide layers have a size substantially the same as that of the magnetic particles 10 of FIG. 1(a). Furthermore, the magnetic particles 10 and the foregoing magnetic particles having the iron oxide layers do not adhere to each other but disperse.

[0059] It has been confirmed that even when the mixture of the raw particles 20 and the other type of particles as above is used as a raw material, with the proportion of the other type of particles being about 50 vol %, and merely subjected to nitridation treatment, the magnetic particles and the foregoing magnetic particles having the iron oxide layers can be manufactured with substantially the same particle sizes and do not adhere to each other but disperse. Thus, even when the mixture of the raw particles and the other type of particles is used as a raw material, the magnetic particles 10 can be obtained and in addition, the magnetic particles having the iron oxide layers as above can be obtained.

[0060] In the present invention, none of oxidation, reduction and nitridation treatment methods is limited to the foregoing illustrative methods as long as the iron fine particles 22, which are cores, can be oxidized, reduced and nitrided and thereby changed into the iron nitride fine particles 12 with the core-shell structure of the raw particles 20 as a raw material being maintained.

[0061] The raw particles 20 (Fe/SiO.sub.2 particles) of FIG. 1(b) can be produced by a method of producing superfine particles using thermal plasma as disclosed by, for example, JP 4004675 B (a method of producing oxide-coated metallic fine particles), and therefore, a detailed explanation thereof will not be made. It should be noted that a method of producing the raw particles 20 is not limited to methods using thermal plasma as long as the raw particles 20 (Fe/SiO.sub.2 particles) can be produced.

[0062] The raw particles 20 used as a raw material and the magnetic particles 10 were measured for magnetic properties. The results are shown in FIG. 3.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 3, magnetic hysteresis curves (B-H curves) denoted by A were obtained with the material particles 20, while magnetic hysteresis curves (B-H curves) denoted by B were obtained with the magnetic particles 10. As can be seen from the magnetic hysteresis curves A and B, the magnetic particles 10 have more excellent magnetic properties. Having the iron nitride fine particles 12 as cores, the magnetic particles 10 can have a coercive force of, for instance, 1700 Oe (about 135.3 kA/m) which is higher than that of the raw particles 20 having iron cores. In addition, the magnetic particles 10 can have a saturation magnetic flux density of 93.5 emu/g (about 1.1510.sup.4 Wb.Math.m/kg).

[0064] The present applicants used raw particles (Fe/SiO.sub.2 particles) with an average particle size of 10 nm as a raw material and subjected the raw particles (Fe/SiO.sub.2 particles) to oxidation treatment, reduction treatment and nitridation treatment in this order, thereby manufacturing magnetic particles. The raw particles in the manufacturing process and the manufactured magnetic particles were analyzed for their crystal structures by X-ray diffractometry, and their states were observed with TEM (transmission electron microscope). Results were obtained as shown in FIGS. 4(a) to 4(c) and FIGS. 5(a) to 5(f).

[0065] FIG. 4(a) is a graph showing a result of crystal structure analysis by X-ray diffractometry made on raw particles having yet to undergo treatment; FIG. 4(b) is a graph showing a result of crystal structure analysis by X-ray diffractometry made on the raw particles having undergone oxidation treatment; and FIG. 4(c) is a graph showing a result of crystal structure analysis by X-ray diffractometry made on magnetic particles obtained through, after the oxidation treatment, reduction treatment and then nitridation treatment.

[0066] FIGS. 5(a) to 5(f) are corresponding to FIGS. 4(a) to 4(c). FIG. 5(a) is a schematic view showing a TEM image of the raw particles having yet to undergo treatment; FIG. 5(b) is an enlarged view of FIG. 5(a); FIG. 5(c) is a schematic view showing a TEM image of the raw particles having undergone oxidation treatment; FIG. 5(d) is an enlarged view of FIG. 5(c); FIG. 5(e) is a schematic view showing a TEM image of the magnetic particles; and FIG. 5(f) is an enlarged view of FIG. 5(e).

[0067] The oxidation treatment was performed in air at 300 C. for 4 hours.

[0068] The reduction treatment was performed in an atmosphere in which hydrogen is present, at 300 C. for 10 hours. To form the atmosphere in which hydrogen is present, H.sub.2 gas (hydrogen gas) was used with an H.sub.2 gas concentration of 100 vol %.

[0069] The nitridation treatment was performed in an ammonia gas atmosphere at 145 C. for 10 hours.

[0070] FIG. 4(a) shows a result of crystal structure analysis made on the raw particles, FIG. 5(a) is a TEM image of the raw particles, and FIG. 5(b) is an enlarged view of FIG. 5(a). The raw particles had the composition of Fe/SiO.sub.2 as shown in FIG. 4(a), and had a core-shell structure as shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b).

[0071] FIG. 4(b) shows a result of crystal structure analysis made on the raw particles having undergone oxidation treatment, FIG. 5(c) is a TEM image of the raw particles having undergone oxidation treatment, and FIG. 5(d) is an enlarged view of FIG. 5(c). Diffraction peaks of iron oxides are exhibited as shown in FIG. 4(b), and this means that iron (Fe) fine particles were oxidized. As shown in FIGS. 5(c) and 5(d), the raw particles having undergone oxidation treatment have a core-shell structure.

[0072] FIG. 4(c) shows a result of crystal structure analysis made on the obtained magnetic particles, FIG. 5(e) is a TEM image of the magnetic particles, and FIG. 5(f) is an enlarged view of FIG. 5(e). The cores of the raw particles were changed into iron nitride (Fe.sub.16N.sub.2) as shown in FIG. 4(c), and the magnetic particles have a core-shell structure as shown in FIGS. 5(e) and 5(f). In addition, the magnetic particles did not aggregate but disperse.

[0073] For comparison, raw particles (Fe/SiO.sub.2 particles) with an average particle size of 33 nm, as a raw material, were subjected to reduction treatment and nitridation treatment in this order, without undergoing oxidation treatment. The raw particles having undergone reduction treatment and nitridation treatment, without undergoing oxidation treatment, were analyzed for their crystal structures by X-ray diffractometry, and the results were obtained as shown in FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b).

[0074] FIG. 6(a) shows a result of crystal structure analysis made on the raw particles that have been subjected to reduction treatment in a hydrogen gas (100 vol %) atmosphere at 300 C. for 3 hours and then nitridation treatment at 175 C. for 5 hours, without undergoing oxidation treatment. FIG. 6(b) shows a result of crystal structure analysis made on the raw particles that have been subjected to reduction treatment in a hydrogen gas (100 vol %) atmosphere at 300 C. for 3 hours and then nitridation treatment at 185 C. for 5 hours, without undergoing oxidation treatment. FIG. 6(c) shows a result of crystal structure analysis by X-ray diffractometry made on Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 serving as a reference. FIG. 6(d) shows a result of crystal structure analysis made on the raw particles. FIG. 6(e) is an enlarged view of a region D of FIG. 6(b).

[0075] Comparing FIGS. 6(a), 6(b) and 6(d) in which reduction treatment and nitridation treatment were performed whereas no oxidation treatment was performed, with FIG. 6(c) showing the reference, this reveals that in cases where reduction treatment and nitridation treatment were performed whereas no oxidation treatment was performed, in addition to Fe.sub.16N.sub.2, Fe.sub.4N was also generated. In other words, an Fe.sub.16N.sub.2 single phase cannot be obtained without oxidation treatment.

[0076] The present invention is basically configured as above. While the method for manufacturing magnetic particles, the magnetic particles and the magnetic body according to the invention have been described above in detail, the invention is by no means limited to the foregoing embodiments and it should be understood that various improvements and modifications are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0077] 10 magnetic particle

[0078] 12, 22 fine particle

[0079] 14, 24 silicon oxide layer

[0080] 20 raw particle