Title of Invention

A BONDED MAGNET

Abstract A bonded magnet comprising a heat-treated ferrite powder for bonded magnets and a binder, said ferrite powder for bonded magnets having a magnetoplumbite-type crystal structure and a basic composition represented by the following general formula: (A1-xRx)0;n[(Fe1-yMy)2O3] by atomic ratio, wherein A is Sr and/or Ba; R is at least one of rare earth elements including Y, La being indispensable; M is Co and/or Zn; and x, y and n are numbers meeting the following conditions: 0.01≤x≤0.4, 0.005≤y≤0.04, and 5≤n≤6, said bonded magnet having a coercivity (iHc) of 2,310 Oe or more and a residual magnetic flux density (Br) of 2,580 G or more.
Full Text FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a high-performance bonded magnet
useful for wide ranges of magnet applications such as various rotors,
magnet rolls for electromagnetic developing-type printers and photocopiers,
audio speakers, buzzers, attracting or magnetic field-generating magnets
and having a higher residual magnetic flux density Br (or higher residual
magnetic flux density Br and coercivity iHc) than those of the conventional
Sr and/or Ba ferrite powders, and a ferrite powder used therefor and a
method for producing such a bonded magnet and a ferrite powder, more
particularly to a magnet roll composed of such a high-performance bonded
magnet and a method for producing such a magnet roll.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As well known, bonded magnets are lighter in weight and higher in
dimensional accuracy than sintered magnets and suitable for mass
production of articles having complicated shapes, and therefore they are
widely used for various magnet applications. Recently, magnet-applied
products have been drastically miniaturized and reduced in weight,
requiring high-performance ferrite bonded magnets having a higher Br (or
higher Br and iHc) suitable for miniaturization and reduction in weight.
Conventional Sr and/or Ba ferrite bonded magnets are obtained by
bonding Sr and/or Ba ferrite powder having a composition represented by

AO.nFe203' wherein A is Sr and/or Ba, and n = 5-6, with binders such as
thermoplastic polyolefin resins or rubbers, advantageous in low cost.
However, the ferrite bonded magnets are lower in Br and maximum energy
product (BH)max than sintered a ferrite powders to the extent of volume
increase due to non-magnetic portions occupied by binders. To obviate
this disadvantage, various attempts have been made conventionally to
improve the orientation of a ferrite powder by a magnetic field or a
mechanical stress applied for a ferrite powder orientation, and to improve
the filling of a ferrite powder in binders. As a result, it is almost
considered that no further improvement in magnetic properties would not
be able to be achieved in bonded magnets comprising a ferrite powders
having conventional compositions.
If the filling ratio of a ferrite powder in rubbers or plastics is
increased to improve the magnetic properties of bonded magnets, the
resultant blends would have extremely high melt viscosity. Even though
high-melt viscosity blends are subjected to practical orientating magnetic
field or mechanical stress, it would be difficult to obtain bonded magnets
having well-oriented a ferrite powder. This difficulty is remarkable in an
injection molding method, though it is appreciable in an extrusion method
and a compression molding method, too. Though the orientation of a
ferrite powder in the ferrite bonded magnets is improved by increasing the
filling ratio of a ferrite powder in rubbers or plastics, such improvement
inevitably causes the deterioration of magnetic properties, failing to satisfy
the demand of miniaturization and reduction in weight.
To obviate such problems of conventional technology, it is effective

to improve the saturation magnetization as or crystal magnetic anisotropy
constant of a ferrite powder for bonded magnets. Improvement in as
directly leads to improvement in coercivity Hc (or iHc). Incidentally, the
conventional a ferrite powder for bonded magnets having a composition of
AO.nFe203 has a magnetoplumbite-type crystal structure, and W-type
ferrite having larger as than a ferrite powder having a magnetoplumbite-
type crystal structure has also been investigated. However, the mass
production of the W-type ferrite cannot be materialized so far due to
difficulty in the control of a sintering atmosphere.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-115715 discloses a ferrite powder
for bonded magnets having a main phase constituted by a hexagonal
magnetoplumbite-type ferrite represented by the general formula:
A1-xRx(Fe12_yMy)z019, wherein A is at least one element selected from the
group consisting of Sr, Ba, Ca and Rb, R is at least one of rare earth
elements including Y, La being indispensable, M is Zn and/or Cd, and x, y
and z are molar ratios meeting the conditions of 0.04≤x≤0.45, 0.04≤y≤0.45,
and 0.7≤Z≤1.2. Investigation by the inventors has revealed, however, that
it is difficult to obtain bonded magnets having high Br and iHc (for
instance, exceeding 3.5 kOe) from this a ferrite powder for bonded
magnets.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a high-
performance bonded magnet having a magnetoplumbite-type crystal
structure suitable for mass production, which has higher Br (or higher Br
and iHc) than those of conventional Sr and/or Ba ferrite bonded magnets, a
magnet roll composed of such a bonded magnet, a ferrite powder used for

The inventors have paid attention to the fact that by adding metal
compounds (for instance, a combination of a La oxide and at least one
oxide of Co, Mn, Ni and Zn, or a combination of a rare earth oxide mixture
based on a La oxide as a main component and containing oxides of Nd, Pr,
Ce, etc. and an oxide of Co and/or Zn), which have not been conventionally
tried, to ferrite represented by AOnFe203, wherein A is Sr and/or Ba, and n
is 5-6, part of A and Fe elements in the above ferrite can be substituted by
the metal elements in the metal compounds added, resulting in a ferrite
powder suitable for bonded magnets, which has a magnetoplumbite-type
crystal structure with a higher saturation magnetization and coercivity than
those of conventional Sr and/or Ba ferrite powder.
The magnetism of this magnetoplumbite-type a ferrite powder is
derived from a magnetic moment of Fe ions, with a magnetic structure of a
ferri-magnet in which magnetic moment is arranged partially in antiparallel
by Fe ion sites. There are two methods to improve the saturation
magnetization in this magnetic structure. The first method is to replace
the Fe ions at sites corresponding to the antiparallel-oriented magnetic
moment with another element, which has a smaller magnetic moment than
Fe ions or is non-magnetic. The second method is to replace the Fe ions
at sites corresponding to the parallel-oriented magnetic moment with
another element having a larger magnetic moment than Fe ions.
Also, increase in a crystal magnetic anisotropy constant in the

above magnetic structure can be achieved by replacing Fe ions with another
element having a stronger interaction with the crystal lattice. Specifically,
Fe ions are replaced with an element in which a magnetic moment derived
from an orbital angular momentum remains or is large.
With the above findings in mind, research has been conducted for
the purpose of replacing Fe ions with various elements by adding various
metal compounds such as metal oxides. As a result, it has been found that
Mn, Co and Ni are elements remarkably improving magnetic properties.
However, the mere addition of the above elements would not
provide a ferrite powders with fully improved magnetic properties, because
the replacement of Fe ions with other elements would destroy the balance
of ion valance, resulting in the generation of undesirable phases. To avoid
this phenomenon, ion sites of Sr and/or Ba should be replaced with other
elements for the purpose of charge compensation. For this purpose, the
addition of at least one of La, Nd, Pr, Ce, etc., particularly La, is effective.
That is, it has been found that a ferrite powder produced by the addition of
an R element compound based on La and an M element compound (at least
one of Co, Mn, Ni and Zn) provides bonded magnets having higher Br (or
higher Br and iHc) than those of the conventional Sr and/or Ba ferrite
bonded magnets. It has also been found that bonded magnets formed by
using a ferrite powder produced by the addition of an R element compound
based on La and a Co element compound and/or a Zn compound has well-
balanced Br and iHc, particularly suitable for magnet rolls.
Further investigation of the inventors has revealed that sufficient
improvement in the magnetic properties of bonded magnets cannot be

obtained only by selecting the composition of main components for ferrite.
This is because the magnetic properties of bonded magnets containing a
ferrite powder are largely affected not only by the basic composition of a
ferrite powder but also by the amounts of impurities (particularly Si, Ca, Al,
Cr) in the ferrite powder.
In general, when magnetically isotropic ferrite obtained by a
ferritization reaction is pulverized to fine particles having particle sizes
substantially corresponding to the single magnetic domain size and then
heat-treated, the resultant a ferrite powder for bonded magnets has
improved magnetic properties. Investigation of the inventors has also
revealed that to achieve as high Br as corresponding to a Br potential
inherent in a ferrite powder materials adjusted to have the above basic
composition, the amounts of additives for forming crystal grain boundary
phases such as Si02, CaO, etc., useful for sintered a ferrite powders, and
A1203 and/or Cr203 having a function to largely improve iHc though
remarkably decreasing Br should be made as small as possible.
The first factor affecting the amounts of inevitable impurities in
ferrite powder is the purity of iron oxide. Iron oxide, which is a main
component for the ferrite powder, inevitably contains inevitable impurities
such as Si02, A1203, Cr203, etc. Though the amounts of these inevitable
impurities are preferably as small as possible, the used of iron oxide having
higher purity than necessary for industrial production disadvantageously
leads to increase in production cost. Incidentally, other starting materials
than iron oxide are preferably SrC03, La203, Co oxides, etc. having a purity
of 99% or more.

The second factor affecting the amounts of inevitable impurities in
ferrite powder is Si, Cr, Al, etc., which may enter into the ferrite powder in
the course of fine pulverization of a magnetically anisotropic ferrite
composition obtained by a ferritization reaction to a single magnetic
domain size or a particle size corresponding thereto. As a result of
investigation by the inventors, it has been appreciated that the amounts of
inevitable impurities tend to increase in the case of using a ball-milling pot
or balls made of steel, which are in general widely used in the production
of ferrite powder. It has been found that particularly when fine
pulverization is carried out to an average diameter of about 1.3 μm or less
measured by an air permeation method using a Fischer Subsieve sizer,
portions in contact with the ferrite powder, such as steel balls
(pulverization medium), inner walls of pulverizing chambers, etc., are
extremely worn, resulting in Si, Cr and Al components entering into the
ferrite powder. The extent of contamination is remarkable when the
average diameter of pulverized powder is as small as 1.1 μm or less.
From the aspect of commercial production, it is preferable to use
usual pulverizing machines such as attritors, ball mills, vibration ball mills,
etc., and also steel balls that less affect the magnetic properties of ferrite
powder than ceramic balls when worn pulverization media contaminate the
ferrite powder. Accordingly, it has been found to be necessary to select a
type of steel that does not substantially contain Al as a material for the
inner walls of pulverization chambers, pulverization media, etc., to prevent
Al and other inevitable impurities from entering into the ferrite powder
during a pulverization process.

However, because the inclusion of Si and Cr components into the
ferrite powder during pulverization is unavoidable due to limitations in
commercial production, the permissible amounts of Si, etc. contained in the
ferrite powder and the amounts of Si, etc. entering into the ferrite powder
during pulverization have been taken into consideration to achieve the
following findings: When iron oxide used for ferrite powder for bonded
magnets has a total content of Si and Ca calculated as (Si02 + CaO) is 0.06
weight % or less and a total content of Al and Cr calculated as (A1203 +
Cr203) is 0.1 weight % or less, the resultant ferrite powder contains
impurities in such amounts that a total of a Si content calculated as Si02
and a Ca content calculated as CaO is 0.2 weight % or less, and a total of
an Al content A1203 and a Cr content calculated as Cr203 is 0.13 weight %
or less, resulting in higher Br than that of the conventional ferrite powder.
The present invention has been completed based on this finding.
Thus, the ferrite powder for bonded magnets according to the
present invention has a substantially magnetoplumbite-type crystal
structure and an average diameter of 0.9-2 μm, the ferrite powder having a
basic composition represented by the following general formula:
(A1-xRx)0.n[(Fe1-yMy)203] by atomic ratio,
wherein A is Sr and/or Ba; R is at least one of rare earth elements including
Y, La being indispensable; M is at least one element selected from the
group consisting of Co, Mn, Ni and Zn; and x, y and n are numbers
meeting the following conditions:
0.01≤x≤0.4,
[x/(2.6n)]≤y
a total of an Si content (calculated as Si02) and a Ca content (calculated as
CaO) being 0.2 weight % or less, and a total of an Al content (calculated as
A1203) and a Cr content (calculated as Cr203) being 0.13 weight % or less.
The method for producing a ferrite powder for bonded magnets
according to the present invention comprises the steps of preparing a
magnetically isotropic ferrite composition having the above basic
composition; finely pulverizing the ferrite composition; and heat-treating
the pulverized ferrite powder at 750-950°C for 0.5-3 hours in the air.
It is preferred that the magnetically isotropic ferrite composition is
prepared by mixing an iron oxide with a compound containing an A
element, a compound containing an R element and a compound containing
an M element and then calcining the resultant mixture for a solid-state
reaction, and that the magnetically isotropic ferrite composition is
subjected to dry-pulverization to an average diameter, heat treatment,
immersion in water for disintegration, and then drying. Further, iron
oxide obtained by spray-roasting a waste liquid generated by washing steel
with hydrochloric acid is preferably used as the iron oxide.
The total of a Si content (calculated as Si02) and a Ca content
(calculated as CaO) is preferably 0.15 weight % or less, and the total of an
Al content (calculated as A1203) and a Cr content (calculated as Cr203) is
preferably 0.1 weight % or less in the ferrite powder.
The anisotropic granulated powder for bonded magnets constituted
by an aggregate of ferrite powder having a substantially magnetoplumbite-
type crystal structure and an average diameter of 0.9-2 μm, said ferrite

powder having a basic composition represented by the following general
formula:
(A1-xRx)O.n[(Fe1-yMy)2O3 ]by atomic ratio,
wherein A is Sr and/or Ba; R is at least one of rare earth elements including
Y, La being indispensable; M is at least one element selected from the
group consisting of Co, Mn, Ni and Zn; and x, y and n are numbers
meeting the following conditions:
0.01≤x≤0.4,
[x/(2.6n)]≤y≤[x/(1.6n)], and
5≤n≤6,
the anisotropic granulated powder having an average diameter of more than
2 μm and 10 μm or less, and a total of an Si content (calculated as Si02)
and a Ca content (calculated as CaO) being 0.2 weight % or less, and a total
of an Al content (calculated as A1203) and a Cr content (calculated as
Cr203) being 0.13 weight % or less.
The method for producing an anisotropic granulated powder for
bonded magnets according to the present invention comprises the steps of
calcining a starting material mixture having the above basic composition
for ferritization to form magnetically isotropic ferrite, which is pulverized,
molded in a magnetic field, disintegrated to an average diameter of more
than 2 μm and 10 μm or less, and then heat-treated at 750-950°C for 0.5-3
hours in the air.
The bonded magnet according to the present invention comprises
the above ferrite powder or the above anisotropic granulated powder and a
binder, having radial or polar anisotropy.

The magnet roll according to the present invention has a plurality of
magnetic poles on a surface thereof, at least one magnetic pole portion
thereof being constituted by a bonded magnet composed of 85-95 weight %
of ferrite powder and 15-5 weight % of a binder, the ferrite powder having
a substantially magnetoplumbite-type crystal structure, an average diameter
of 0.9-2 μm, and a basic composition represented by the following general
formula:
(A1-xRx)0.n[(Fe1-yMy)203] by atomic ratio,
wherein A is Sr and/or Ba; R is at least one of rare earth elements including
Y, La being indispensable; M is at least one element selected from the
group consisting of Co and/or Zn; and x, y and n are numbers meeting the
following conditions:
0.01≤x≤0.4,
[x/(2.6n)]≤y≤[x/(1.6n)], and
5≤n≤6,
a total of an Si content (calculated as Si02) and a Ca content (calculated as
CaO) being 0.2 weight % or less, and the total of an Al content (calculated
as A1203) and a Cr content (calculated as Cr203) being 0.13 weight % or
less in the ferrite powder.
ACCOMPANYING
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a graph showing one example of the correlation between
the amount (x) of an R element and a saturation magnetization as and a
coercivity Hc in a calcined coarse ferrite powder used in the present
invention;

Fig. 2 is a graph showing one example of the correlation between
average diameter and magnetization O4kOe at 4kOe in the ferrite powders of
the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a graph showing one example of the correlation between a
heat treatment temperature and Br in the ferrite powders of the present
invention;
Fig. 4 is a graph showing one example of the correlation between a
heat treatment temperature and iHc in the ferrite powders of the present
invention;
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing one example of an
apparatus for forming a radially anisotropic magnet roll of the present
invention;
Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the detailed structure of an
orientation die in the forming apparatus of Fig. 5;
Fig. 7(a) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a magnet
roll apparatus into which a cylindrical bonded magnet of the present
invention is assembled;
Fig. 7(b) is a transverse cross-sectional view showing the magnet
roll apparatus of Fig. 7(a);
Fig. 8(a) is a graph showing a surface magnetic flux density
distribution in a longitudinal direction of a cylindrical bonded magnet for a
magnet roll obtained by using a compound A; and
Fig. 8(b) is a graph showing a surface magnetic flux density
distribution in a longitudinal direction of a cylindrical bonded magnet for a
magnet roll obtained by using a compound D.

THE BEST MODE FOR CONDUCTING THE INVENTION
[1] A ferrite powder
The ferrite powder of the present invention substantially has a
magnetoplumbite-type crystal structure having a basic composition
represented by the following general formula:
(A1-xRx)0.n[(Fe1-yMy)203] by atomic ratio,
wherein A is Sr and/or Ba; R is at least one of rare earth elements including
Y, La being indispensable; M is at least one element selected from the
group consisting of Co, Mn, Ni and Zn; and x, y and n are numbers
meeting the following conditions:
0.01≤x≤0.4,
[x/(2.6n)]≤y≤[x/(1.6n)], and
5≤n≤6,
and having an average diameter of 0.9-2 μm.
To have good magnetic properties as the ferrite powder for bonded
magnets, the value of n (molar ratio) should be between 5 and 6. When
the value of n exceeds 6, undesirable phases such as α-Fe203 other than the
magnetoplumbite phase are generated, resulting in drastic decrease in
magnetic properties. On the other hand, when the value of n is less than 5,
Br of the ferrite powder drastically decreases.
The value of x is between 0.01 and 0.4. When the value of x
exceeds 0.4, the magnetic properties of the ferrite powder rather decrease.
On the other hand, when the value of x is less than 0.01, sufficient effects
of the post-addition method or the prior/post-addition method cannot be

R is at least one of rare earth elements including Y, La being
indispensable. R-supplying starting materials may be composite rare
earth oxides containing one or more of La, Nd, Pr and Ce. To increase as,
the percentage of La in R is preferably 50 atomic % or more, more
preferably 70 atomic % or more, particularly preferably 99 atomic % or
more. R may be composed of La only.
M may be any of Co, Mn, Ni and Zn, and Co is particularly
preferable to obtain a high coercivity. Further, M may preferably be Co +
Zn, and to achieve iHc ≥3.5 kOe, the percentage of Co in M is preferably
50-90 atomic %, more preferably 70-90 atomic %. To achieve iHc ≥2.5
kOe without neglecting Br, the percentage of Co in M is preferably 5
atomic % or more and less than 50 atomic %, more preferably 5-30
atomic %. When the percentage of Co in M is less than 5 atomic %,
sufficient effects of improving iHc by Co cannot be obtained. On the
other hand, when the percentage of Co in M exceeds 90 atomic %,
sufficient effects of improving Br by Zn cannot be obtained.
For the purpose of charge compensation, x and y should satisfy the
relation of y = x/(2.0n). However, as long as y is from x/(2.6n) to x/(1.6n),
the effects of the present invention by charge compensation are not
substantially deteriorated. When the value of y deviates from x/(2.0n),
there is likelihood that Fe2+ is contained without causing problems. On
the other hand, when the ratio of x/ny exceeds 2.6 or is less than 1.6,
remarkable decrease in magnetic properties is appreciated. Accordingly,
the ratio of x/ny should be between 1.6 and 2.6. This condition may be

[x/(2.6n)]≤y≤[x/(1.6n)].
In typical example, the preferred range of y is 0.04 or less,
particularly 0.005-0.03. Even when the contents of the R element and the
M element meet the equation of y = x/(2.0n), part of the R element and/or
the M element may be accumulated in high concentration in the vicinity of
grain boundaries, without causing any problems.
As impurities contained in the ferrite powder, a total of a Si content
calculated as Si02 and a Ca content calculated as CaO should be 0.2
weight % or less, and a total of an Al content calculated as A1203 and a Cr
content calculated as Cr203 should be 0.13 weight % or less. When the
total of the Si content and the Ca content exceeds 0.2 weight %, or when
the total of the Al content and the Cr content exceeds 0.13 weight %, it is
impossible to obtain bonded magnets having excellent magnetic properties.
The preferred total of the Si content and the Ca content is 0.15 weight % or
less, and the preferred total of the Al content and the Cr content is 0.1
weight % or less. Because the purity of starting materials and quality of
materials for a ball-milling apparatus are limited for practical reasons, it is
actually difficult that the total of the Si content calculated as Si02 and the
Ca content calculated as CaO is 0.005 weight % or less, and the total of the
Al content calculated as A1203 and the Cr content calculated as Cr203 is
0.005 weight % or less.
The ferrite powder for bonded magnets according to the present
invention may be produced, for instance, by a solid-state reaction method,
by the steps of mixing of starting material powders→ calcination for

The purity of iron oxide used in the ferritization reaction (solid-state
reaction) is important. The total of the Si content (calculated as Si02) and
the Ca content (calculated as CaO) is preferably 0.06 weight % or less,
more preferably 0.05 weight % or less, particularly preferably 0.04
weight % or less. Also, the total of the Al content (calculated as A1203)
and the Cr content (calculated as Cr203) is preferably 0.1 weight % or less,
more preferably 0.09 weight % or less, particularly preferably 0.08
weight % or less. Therefore, it is preferable to use recycled iron oxide
obtained by spray-roasting a waste liquid generated by washing steel with
hydrochloric acid. This recycled iron oxide is advantageous in low
impurity content over iron oxide obtained by refining iron ore through the
steps of iron ore → fine pulverization→ classification → magnetic
separation, and iron oxide from iron sulfate obtained by treating mill scales
or scraps.
Preferable as materials for supplying the R elements are, for
instance, one or more of oxides such as La2O3, hydroxides such as La(OH)3,
carbonate hydrates such as La2(CO3)3-8H2O, organic acid salts such as
La(CH3C02)31.5H20, La2(C2O4)3-10H2O, etc. Further, one or more of
oxides, hydroxides, carbonates and organic acid salts of mixtures of rare
earth elements (La, Nd, Pr and Ce) may also be used.
Compounds of M elements are preferably, for instance, one or more ^
of oxides such as CoO, Co304; hydroxides such as Co(OH)2, Co304.m1H20,
wherein m1 is a positive number; carbonates such as CoC03; basic

carbonates such as m2CoCO3-m3Co(OH)2.m4H2O, wherein m2, m3 and m4
are positive numbers. One or more oxides, hydroxides or carbonates of
Mn or Ni may also be used. Further, one or more oxides, hydroxides or
carbonates of Zn may be used.
Starting material powders are preferably mixed in advance such that
the target composition is achieved at a calcination step. When the R
element and the M element are added at a mixing step, the powder mixture
is subjected to two heating steps of calcination and heat treatment, resulting
in more uniform ferrite composition due to well proceeded solid diffusion.
Mixing, calcination and pulverization may be carried out
substantially under the same conditions as in sintered ferrite magnets. For
instance, after the wet mixing, a ferritization reaction is carried out by
heating at 1150-1300°C for 1-5 hours in the air. A heating temperature
lower than 1150°C fails to achieve sufficient ferritization, and a heating
temperature exceeding 1300°C makes a calcined body extremely hard,
resulting in drastically decreased pulverization efficiency. The
pulverization step is preferably a combination of a coarse pulverization step
using a crusher, and a fine pulverization step using a pulverizer. The fine
pulverization is preferably carried out by using an attritor, a ball mill, a
vibration ball mill, etc.
To avoid the inclusion of Al, Si and Cr into ferrite powder in the
pulverizer used in the present invention, a pulverization chamber
(pulverization cylinder) of the pulverizer and a pulverization medium
therein, which are in direct contact with powder being pulverized, are
preferably made of chromium steel (Si: 0.15-0.35 weight %, Cr: 0.90-1.20

weight %) such as SCr 415, 420, 430, 435, 440, 445 according to JIS G
4104. High-carbon chromium bearing steel (Si: 0.15-0.70 weight %, Cr:
0.90-1.60 weight %) such as SUJ 1, 2, 3 according to JIS G 4805 may also
be used.
The fine powder preferably has an average diameter of 0.8-1.9 μm,
more preferably 0.9-1.4 μm, particularly preferably 0.95-1.2 μm. The
average diameter of ferrite powder is measured by an air permeation
method using a Fischer Subsieve sizer.
The heat treatment is preferably carried out at 750-950°C for 0.5-3
hours in the air. It is difficult to increase iHc under the conditions of
lower than 750°C x 0.5 hours, and the conditions exceeding 950°C x 3
hours provides extreme agglomeration of ferrite powder, resulting in
drastic decrease in Br. The preferred heat treatment temperature is 750-
900°C. To prevent the agglomeration of ferrite powder by the heat
treatment, it is preferable to use a tumbling-type or fluidized bed-type heat
treatment apparatus.
The heat treatment increases the average diameter of the fine ferrite
powder by about 0.05-0.1 μm. Accordingly, the heat-treated ferrite
powder has an average diameter of preferably 0.9-2 μm, more preferably
1.0-1.5 μm, and particularly preferably 1.05-1.3 μm. When the average
diameter is less than 0.9 μm, the filling rate of magnetic powder in a blend
for a bonded magnet is low, resulting in drastic decrease in a density, Br
and (BH)max of the resultant bonded magnet. On the other hand, when the
average diameter exceeds 2 μm, it is difficult to achieve iHc ≥3.5 kOe even
when R = La, and M = Co.

' In the production of the ferrite powder of the present invention, the
fine ferrite powder adjusted to have an average diameter of 0.85-1.95 μm
may be mixed with a Bi compound in an amount of 0.2-0.6 weight %
calculated as Bi203, and then subjected to a heat treatment at 825-950°C for
0.5-3 hours to remove strain, thereby imparting high magnetization and
coercivity. The heat treatment conditions of lower than 825°C x 0.5 hours
fails to provide sufficient agglomeration suppressing effects by the melting
of Bi203 to a liquid phase, and also fails to achieve sufficient iHc. On the
other hand, when the heat treatment conditions exceed 950°C x 3 hours,
iHc increases while Br relatively decreases. By a heat treatment after the
addition of the Bi compound in an amount of 0.2-0.6 weight % calculated
as Bi203, a tendency is appreciated that the ferrite powder becomes thicker
in a C-axis direction than in the case of no addition, resulting in more
rounded particle shape. The round shape of the ferrite powder is preferable
because of improved dispersibility, filling ratio and magnetic orientation in
a binder. The addition of less than 0.2 weight % of the Bi compound fails
to provide sufficient effects, while effects are saturated over 0.6 weight %
of the Bi compound.
[2] Anisotropic granulated powder
In the production of a long, cylindrical ferrite bonded magnet
having a polar or radially anisotropic to obtain magnet rolls for copiers and
printers, well-moldable compounds are desired because of the long shape
of the bonded magnet. Accordingly, it is preferable to properly increase
the average diameter of ferrite powder blended in compounds. As
described above, however, the ferrite powder having an average diameter

exceeding 2 μm provides iHc of less than 3.5 kOe even when R = La, and
M = Co, resulting in drastic decrease in Br. As a result of intense research,
it has been found that the above problems can be solved by making an
anisotropic granulated powder by agglomerating a plurality of ferrite
powder of the present invention in the same magnetization direction.
The anisotropic granulated powder can be produced by the steps of
mixing of starting material powders→ ferritization reaction (solid-state
reaction)→ calcination → pulverization → molding in magnetic field →
disintegration → heat treatment → disintegration in water. The iron oxide
used in this case may have the same purity as in the above ferrite powder.
The calcined ferrite powder is finely pulverized to an average
diameter of preferably 0.9-1.4 μm, more preferably 0.95-1.35 μm,
particularly preferably 1.0-1.3 μm. When the fine powder has an average
diameter of less than 0.9 μm, the anisotropic granulated powder has
drastically decreased Br. On the other hand, when the average diameter of
the fine powder exceeds 1.3 μm, Br and iHc decrease. The pulverized
ferrite powder is then subjected to wet- or dry-molding in a magnetic field.
In either wet or dry, the molding is preferably carried out at room
temperature under pressure of about 0.35-0.45 ton/cm2 while applying a
magnetic field of 8-15 kOe. The resultant anisotropic granulated powder
has a density of about 2.6-3.2 g/cm3. The resultant: green body is then
disintegrated by a jaw crusher, etc. and classified by a sieve or wind to
adjust the final average diameter to more than 2 μm and 10 μm or less.
The anisotropic granulated powder thus produced is heat-treated
under the same conditions as in the above ferrite powder. To break the

agglomeration of the heat-treated powder, the heat-treated powder is
preferably immersed in a liquid such as water, and stirred, if necessary.
The resultant anisotropic granulated powder has such magnetic anisotropy
that an easy-magnetization axis aligned substantially in the same direction.
The average diameter of the anisotropic granulated powder is
preferably more than 2 μm and 10 μm or less, more preferably 2.5-5 μm,
particularly preferably 3-4 μm. The average diameter of 2 μm or less
would not be advantageous over the above ferrite powder. On the other
hand, the average diameter exceeding 10 μm would provide drastic
decrease in Br. Incidentally, the average diameter of the anisotropic
granulated powder is measured by a Heros Rodos particle size distribution
measuring apparatus available from JEOL LTD.
Because the anisotropic granulated powder has higher iHc, not less
than Br and an larger average diameter than those of the conventional Sr
and/or Ba ferrite powder, the moldability of compounds are improved by
using the anisotropic granulated powder. Thus, in the case of a long,
cylindrical ferrite bonded magnet, the unevenness of a surface magnetic
flux density in a longitudinal direction is smaller when the anisotropic
granulated powder is used than when the ferrite powder that is not
subjected to anisotropic granulation is used. Therefore, the long,
cylindrical bonded magnet formed from the anisotropic granulated powder
is suitable for magnet rolls of copiers or printers for producing copies or
prints free from unevenness. It is also useful for rotors.
[3] Bonded magnet
The bonded magnet is produced from the ferrite powder or the

-anisotropic granulated powder thereof by the steps of surface treatment→
blending with binder → molding. The strength and/or Br of the bonded
magnet can be improved by carrying out a surface treatment comprising
adding 0.1-1 weight % of a surface-treating agent such as a silane coupling
agent, a titanate coupling agent, etc. to the ferrite powder or its anisotropic
granulated powder before blending, and if necessary, heating at 70-150°C
for 0.5-3 hours in the air.
85-95 parts by weight of the ferrite powder or its anisotropic
granulated powder is preferably blended with 15-5 parts by weight of a
binder. Thermoplastic resins, thermosetting resins or rubbers may usually
be used as the binder. When the thermosetting resins are used, a heat-
setting treatment should be carried out after molding. In addition, low-
melting point metals or alloys having melting points lower than the Curie
temperature of the ferrite powder may be used. When the amount of the
ferrite powder added is less than 85 weight %, it is difficult to obtain high
Br. On the other hand, when it exceeds 95 weight: %, the filling of the
ferrite powder in the bonded magnet becomes difficult, resulting in large
numbers of small pores contained in the resultant green body, which leads
to decrease in the density, Br and (BH)max of the bonded magnet. In
addition to the above indispensable components, the compounds may
preferably contain magnetic powder-dispersing agents such as phenols,
lubricants such as waxes, plasticizers such as DOP, DBP, etc. alone or in
combination. The total amount of these additives is preferably 3
weight % or less, more preferably 1-2 weight %.
The molded article is anisotropic or isotropic depending on the

-presence or absence of an orientation magnetic field and/or mechanical
stress. Molding may be carried out by an injection molding method, an
compression molding method, or an extrusion molding method.
[4] Magnet roll
The preferred embodiment of the above bonded magnet is a magnet
roll, and a bonded magnet for a magnet roll is provided with radial or polar
anisotropy. The bonded magnet for a magnet roll should not necessarily
be integral, and what is necessary is that at least one magnetic pole portion
is constituted by the anisotropic bonded magnet of the present invention.
Figs. 5 and 6 show the structure of an apparatus for producing an
integral, cylindrical bonded magnet having radial anisotropy for a magnet
roll. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the entire structure of the
molding apparatus, and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the
detailed structure of an essential part (die for orientation) of the molding
apparatus in Fig. 5. In Fig. 5, a double-screw extruder 6 constituting the
molding apparatus comprises a barrel 62 consisting of a plurality of parts
and equipped with a hopper 61 at one end, two screws 63 (only one is
shown in the figure) disposed in the barrel 62, and an adapter 64 mounted
to a tip end of the barrel 62. An orientation die 7 is mounted to the
adapter 64 at its exit. This die 7 comprises a ring-shaped spacer 71, a
ring-shaped mandrel 72, a cylindrical molding space 73 existing between
them, and magnetic field-generating means 74 disposed around the ring-
shaped spacer 71.
The magnetic field-generating means 74 comprises a cylindrical
yoke 75 made of ferrimagnet composed of a first yoke 75a and a second

yoke 75b, and a plurality of coils 76 disposed at predetermined intervals
inside the cylindrical yoke 75 such that it encircles the molding space 73.
Magnetic flux F flows in the yoke 75 as shown in the figure.
Using the molding apparatus 6, a radially anisotropic bonded
magnet can be produced in a manner as described below. A starting
material introduced into the barrel 62 through the hopper 61 is subjected to
shear stress by the rotation of a pair of screws 63, and conveyed to the
orientation die 7 while being molten by heating at a temperature of 150-
230°C. The molten material passes through a molding space reduced to a
predetermined cross section in the orientation die 7 while being applied a
magnetic field. Specifically, the intensity of a magnetic field may be 3-6
kOe. When molded in a radially or polar anisotropic magnetic field
having such a level of intensity, radially or polar anisotropic bonded
magnets having practically satisfactory magnetic properties can be obtained.
When the magnetic field intensity is too low, sufficient orientation cannot
be obtained.
After extruded from the die, the radially anisotropic molded article
11 is cut to a proper length (L/D≥5), cooled for solidification and then
demagnetized. This molded article is fixed to a shaft 12 to provide a
magnet roll as shown in Fig. 7. In Fig. 7, 2 denotes a sleeve, 3a and 3b
denote supports for the sleeve 2, 4 denotes a bearing, and 5 denotes a seal.
Though an example shown in Figs. 5-7 is related to an integral,
cylindrical bonded magnet, the present invention is not restricted to such a
bonded magnet. What is necessary is that at least one magnetic pole
portion is formed by the anisotropic bonded magnet of the present

invention. For instance, a radially or polar anisotropic bonded magnet
formed in an arc segment shape may be bonded together to a cylindrical
shape. Further, a cylindrical permanent magnet (for instance, isotropic
ferrite magnet or ferrite bonded magnet having a conventional
composition) for a magnet roll may be provided with a longitudinal groove
on a surface thereof, and the anisotropic bonded magnet of the present
invention in a shape of a long block (for instance, having U-cross section)
may be fixed into the groove to provide a magnetic pole.
When the bonded magnet is provided with a radial anisotropy, the
magnet roll 1 of the present invention has not only improved Br but also a
plurality of magnetic poles on a surface. Therefore, any desired
arrangement of magnetic poles can be selected in the magnet roll of the
present invention.
The present invention will be described in detail referring to
EXAMPLES below, without intention of restricting the scope of the present
invention thereto.
EXAMPLE 1, COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1
Used as high-purity iron oxide (α-Fe203) was recycled iron oxide
obtained by spray-roasting a waste liquid generated by washing steel with
hydrochloric acid, whose composition is shown in Table 1.


The high-purity iron oxide, SrC03 having a purity of 99% or more,
oxides of R elements and oxides of M elements were formulated to provide
the following basic composition:
(Sr1_xRx)0-n[(Fe1-yMy)203] by atomic ratio,
wherein x = 0.15, and y = x/2n = 0.0125, n = 6.0, wet-mixed, and then
calcined at 1200°C for 2 hours in the air. La was selected as the R
element under the criterion that La has an ion radius close to a radius of a
Srion,Also,Ti,Mn,Ni, Cu Zn were selected as the M
elements under the criterion that they had ion radii close to a radius of an
Fe ion. As a conventional materia], ferrite having the above basic
composition in which x = y = 0 and n = 6.0, namely SrO6Fe2o3,was
calcined under the same conditions.
Each calcined powder was coarsely pulverized in a dry state by a

roller mill, and each of the resultant coarse powder (average diameter: 5-10
μm, measured by a Heros Rodos particle size distribution measuring
apparatus) was measured with respect to magnetic properties by a
vibration-type magnetometer. The highest intensity of a magnetic field in
which measurement was carried out was 12 kOe, and a saturation
magnetization as and Hc were determined by a-l/H2 plot, wherein a is
magnetization and H is the intensity of a magnetic field applied. The
resultant phases of the coarse powder were identified by X-ray diffraction,
and the results are shown in Table 2.


It is appreciated from Table 2 that when Cu was not contained as
the M element, only X-ray diffraction peaks for a magnetoplumbite phase
(M phase) were observed in any powder. Table 2 also indicates that when
La was selected as the R element, and Mn, Mn + Co, Ni, Ni + Co, or Zn +

Co was selected as the M element, the resultant calcined powder had higher
as (or higher as and He) than the conventional coarse powder of
SrO-6Fe203, suggesting that such calcined powder can be formed into high-
performance bonded magnets. An isotropic bonded magnet can be
produced from each coarse powder of EXAMPLE 1 in Table 2, by heat
treatment, if necessary, under the above-described conditions, mixing with
a binder at a proper ratio, blending to form a compound, and then injection
molding, compression molding or extrusion molding without a magnetic
field.
Further, it has been found from investigation in connection with the
above experiments that a combination of R = La + Pr, La + Nd, La + Ce,
La + Nd + Pr, La + Pr + Ce or La + Nd + Pr + Ce may be used, and that the
percentage of La in the R element is required to be 50 atomic % or more to
obtain higher as than that of the conventional coarse powder of
SrO6Fe203.
EXAMPLE 2
Sr, La and Co were selected as the A element, the R element and the
M element, respectively, and SrC03, iron oxide, La203 and CoO each
having substantially the same purity as in EXAMPLE 1 were formulated to
provide the following basic composition:
(Srj.xLax)0-n[(Fe1-yCoy)203] by atomic ratio,
wherein x = 0-0.6, y = x/2n = 0-0.05, and n = 6.0, wet-mixed, and then
calcined at 1200°C for 2 hours in the air. The calcined powder was
coarsely pulverized in the same manner as in EXAMPLE 1 and then

measured with respect to magnetic properties. The results are shown in
Fig. 1.
It is clear from Fig. 1 that when both La203 and CoO are added, a
higher coercivity He is obtained at x = 0.01-0.4 than at x = 0, and a higher
saturation magnetization as is obtained at x = 0.01-0.4 than at x = 0.
Accordingly, the range of x is 0.01≤x≤0.4, preferably 0.05≤x≤0.4, more
preferably 0.07≤x≤0.4, to achieve high potential of as and Hc.
Further, in the coarse ferrite powder produced from starting
materials having the same purity as in EXAMPLE 1, substantially the same
tendency as shown in Fig. 1 is appreciated in the case of the basic
composition of (Sr1-xLax)0-n[(Fe1-yCoy)203] by atomic ratio, and (a) when
the R element is 50 atomic % La + 50 atomic % Pr, 50 atomic % La + 50
atomic % Nd, or 50 atomic % La + 50 atomic % Ce, and the M element is
Co, or (b) when the R element is La, and the M element is 50 atomic % Co
+ 50 atomic % Zn, 50 atomic % Co + 50 atomic % Mn, or 50 atomic % Co
+ 50 atomic % Ni.
The ferrite powder of the present invention shows substantially the
same tendency as shown in Fig. 1, when the value of n is 5.0-6.0.
Therefore, it is possible to achieve improvement in as and Hc by the
addition of the R element and the M element at the value n of 5.0-6.0.
EXAMPLE 3
In this EXAMPLE, the permissible ratio of the R element to the M
element in connection with charge compensation was determined. ST, La
and Co were selected as the A element, the R element and the M element,

respectively, and SrC03, iron oxide, La203 and CoO each having
substantially the same purity as in EXAMPLE 1 were formulated to provide
the following basic composition:
(Sr1_xLax)O.n[(Fe1-yCoy)203] by atomic ratio,
whereat x = 0.15, y = 0.77-1.43 x 10"2, and n = 6.0, wet-mixed, and then
calcined at 1200°C for 2 hours in the air. The calcined powder was
coarsely pulverized in the same manner as in EXAMPLE 1 and then
measured with respect to magnetic properties.
It has thus been found that a high-performance bonded magnet
having higher Br (or higher Br and iHc) than those of the conventional Sr
and/or Ba ferrite bonded magnets can be obtained, as long as the ratio of
x/ny is within the range of 1.6-2.6, not limited to the conditions under
which the charge balance is fully kept, namely to a ratio of x to y satisfying
the relation of y = x/2n. On the other hand, when the ratio of x/ny
exceeds 2.6 or is less than 1.6, deterioration in magnetic properties due to
the failure of the charge balance is appreciated. Accordingly, the ratio of
x/ny should be between 1.6 and 2.6. This condition may be converted to
the formula of y as follows:
[x/(2.6n)]≤y≤[x/(1.6n)].
EXAMPLE 4
La and Co were selected as the R element and the M element,
respectively, and SrC03, iron oxide, La203 and Co3 oxides each having
substantially the same purity as in EXAMPLE 1 were formulated to provide
the following basic composition:

(Sr1-xLax)0.n[(Fe1-yCoy)203] by atomic ratio,
whereat x = 0.15, y = x/2n, and n = 5.85, wet-mixed, and then calcined at
1200°C for 2 hours in the air. The calcined powder was coarsely
pulverized in a dry state by a roller mill.
700 g of the resultant coarse powder was charged into a ball mill
pot [volume: 10 liters, made of SUJ3 (C: 0.95-1.10 weight %, Si: 0.40-0.70
weight %, Mn: 0.90-1.15 weight %, Cr: 0.90-1.20 weight %, P: 0.025
weight % or less, S: 0.025 weight % or less)], together with 10 kg of steel
balls (each diameter: 6 mm, made of SUJ3) as pulverization media and
ethyl alcohol (pulverization aid added in a small amount to suppress
agglomeration of pulverized powder), and the pot was sealed. The
amount of ethyl alcohol added at an initial stage was 50 cm3, and 10 cm3 of
ethyl alcohol was added every time the average diameter of the coarse
powder was measured. Dry fine pulverization may be carried out by ball
milling at a peripheral speed of 0.7 m/sec.
With varied pulverization time, fine ferrite powder having an
average diameter of 0.7-1.95 μm was obtained. Each of the resultant fine
powder was introduced into a heat-resistant container, which was set in an
electric furnace heated in the same atmosphere as the air. After annealing
heat treatment at 830 ± 2°C for 3 hours to remove strain, the fine powder
was cooled to room temperature. After the heat-treated fine powder was
charged into water to disintegrate the agglomeration of fine particles due to
the heat treatment, it was heated at 100°C to remove moisture and then
cooled to room temperature. To disintegrate the dried powder, the fine
powder was caused to pass through a 150-mesh sieve to obtain ferrite

powder having an average diameter of 0.8-2.0 μm. The average diameter
of ferrite powder was measured by an air permeation method using a
Fischer Subsieve sizer.
The above ferrite powder was separated to provide a fraction having
an average diameter of 0.8-1.6 μm, which was sealed in a holder of VSM
to measure a maximum magnetization (o4k0e) while applying a parallel
magnetic field of 4 kOe at 20°C. The correlation of average diameter and
o4k0e in each powder is shown by O in Fig. 2.
Also measured with respect to the ferrite powder obtained by the
same method were an average diameter, increase of the Si content (ASi02,
calculated as SiO2) and the Cr content (ACr2O3, calculated as Cr2O3), the
amount calculated as (SiO2 + CaO) and the amount calculated as (A12O3 +
Cr2O3) from "before calcination" to "after pulverization." The results are
shown in Table 3. It is clear from Table 3 that in any ferrite powder for
bonded magnets having each average diameter, ASiO2 was 0.018-0.142
weight %, and ACr2O3 was 0.002-0.009 weight %. For instance, in the
case of Sample No. 32, ASi02 was 0.108 weight %, and ACr2O3 was 0.008
weight % by the fine pulverization. In the case of Sample Nos. 31-33,
85% or more of ASi02 was attributed to inclusion at the fine pulverization
step. Other portions of ASi02 were attributed to inclusion at the coarse
pulverization step, the water immersion step after the heat treatment, and
the classification step by a sieve. 80% or more of ACr2O3 in Sample Nos.
31-36 was attributed to inclusion at the fine pulverization step.

For comparison, calcination, coarse pulverization, fine pulverization,
heat treatment, immersion in water, drying and 150-mesh sieving were
carried out to produce ferrite powder having an average diameter of 0.8-2.0
μm, in the same manner as in EXAMPLE 4 except for using SrCO3 and iron
oxide each having the same purity as in EXAMPLE 1 for a basic
composition of SrO5.85Fe2O3, and making the finely pulverized ferrite
powder have an average diameter of 0.75-1.93 μm. A ferrite powder
fraction having an average diameter of 0.82-1.60 μm, which was separated
from the resultant ferrite powder, was sealed in a holder of VSM to
measure a maximum magnetization (O4k0e) while applying a parallel
magnetic field of 4 kOe at 20°C. The correlation of average diameter and
O4k0e in each powder is shown by in Fig. 2.
Also measured with respect to the ferrite powder obtained by the
same method were an average diameter, ASiO2, ACr203, (SiO2 + CaO) and
(A1203 + Cr203). The results are shown in Table 3. The comparison of
ferrite powder having substantially the same average diameter in Table 3
clearly shows that ASi02, ACr203, (Si02 + CaO) and (A1203 + Cr2O3) of the
ferrite powder having this conventional composition are not different from
those of EXAMPLE 4 (indicated by O).
As is clear from Fig. 2, however, the ferrite powder of EXAMPLE 4
(indicat0ed by O) shows higher O4k0e by about 1-2 emu/g than that of
COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2 (indicated by •) in an average diameter
range of 0.8 to 1.6 μm. This verifies that even ferrite powder containing
impurities on the same level fails to show high O4k0e unless the requirement

of a.basic composition is not met.
90 parts by weight of ferrite powder in EXAMPLE 4 or
COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2, 7.7 parts by weight of an ethylene-ethyl
acrylate copolymer (EEA, Mw = 43,000, EA content = 41 weight %, MB-
870, available from Nippon Unicar K. K.), 1.0 parts by weight of a
dispersant (DH-37, available from Adeka Argus Chemical Co., Ltd.), and
0.5 parts by weight of a lubricant (Slipacks E, available from Nippon Kasei
K. K.) were mixed in a mixer, and the resultant mixture was blended while
heating at 150°C. After cooled for solidification, the blend was crushed to
particles of 5 mm or less in diameter. After adding 0.8 parts by weight of
a silicone oil (KF968, viscosity = 100 centistokes at 25°C, surface tension
= 20.8 dyne/cm at 25°C, available from Shin-etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.), the
blend was granulated at 150°C to provide compounds. The blending and
granulation were carried out by a double-screw extruder.
Each of the resultant compounds was charged into an injection
molding apparatus and injection-molded into a cavity of a die having a
magnetic circuit attached to the injection molding apparatus, under the
conditions of an injection temperature of 200°C, an injection pressure of
1000 kgf/cm2 and an orientation magnetic field intensity of 4.0 ±0.2 kOe,
to form an anisotropic bonded magnet of 20 mm in length x 20 mm in
width x 10 mm in thickness. Each of the resultant anisotropic bonded
magnets was measured with respect to magnetic properties by a B-H tracer
at 20°C. The results are shown in Table 3. Table 3 clearly shows the
advantages of the bonded magnet formed from the ferrite powder of

Anisotropic bonded magnets were produced by an injection
molding method for the measurement of magnetic properties in the same
manner as above except for using two types of compounds obtained from
the ferrite powder having an average diameter of 1.05 μm in EXAMPLE 4
and COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2 at an orientation magnetic field intensity
of 10±0.2 kOe. As a result, the bonded magnet formed from the ferrite
powder having an average diameter of 1.05 μm in EXAMPLE 4 had Br of
2,780 G and iHc of 4,470 Oe, and the bonded magnet formed from the
ferrite powder having an average diameter of 1.05 μm in COMPARATIVE
EXAMPLE 2 had Br of 2,720 G and iHc of 2,900 Oe. This result indicates
the advantages of the ferrite powder of the present invention even at a
magnetic field intensity of 10 kOe.
In the production of a radially or polar anisotropic ferrite bonded
magnet (for instance, solid cylindrical or ring-shaped bonded magnet
capable of being magnetized to have 4-24 symmetrical or unsymmetrical
magnetic poles), it is difficult to apply as strong a magnetic field as 10 kOe
or more. Therefore, it is preferable to use the ferrite powder capable of
being well oriented by a magnetic field suitable for mass production of
preferably 8 kOe or less, more preferably 6 kOe or less, particularly
preferably 3-6 kOe.


EXAMPLE 5
EXAMPLE 4 was repeated up to fine pulverization by a dry ball mill
except for using iron oxide, SrCO3, Fe203, La2O3 and ZnO each having
substantially the same purity as in EXAMPLE 1 to provide a basic
composition of (Sr0. 883La0.117)O.5.75[(Fe0. 99Co0.005Zn0.005)2O3] by atomic ratio,
to provide five types of fine ferrite powder having different average
diameters. After adding 0.4 parts by weight of bismuth oxide (Bi203) to
100 parts by weight of each fine ferrite powder, mixing was carried out to
provide five types of mixed powder. Each mixed powder was subjected to
heat treatment, immersion in water, drying and 150-mesh sieving in the

same manner as in EXAMPLE 4, to produce five types of ferrite magnet
powder having different average diameters. As shown in Table 4, each
ferrite magnet powder was substantially on the same level as those having
substantially the same average diameters in Table 3 in any of ASi02,
ACr203, (SiO2 + CaO), and (Al203 + Cr2O3;).
COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 3
For comparison, five types of ferrite powder having different
average diameters for bonded magnets were produced in the same manner
as in EXAMPLE 5 except for using a basic composition of SrO.5.75Fe203.
Each ferrite magnet powder was substantially on the same level as those
having substantially the same average diameters in Table 3 in any of ASi02,
ACr203, (Si02 + CaO), and (A1203 + Cr203).
After weighing each ferrite powder of EXAMPLE 5 and
COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 3 shown in Table 4, each powder was charged
into a Henschel mixer, in which a surface treatment comprising mixing 100
parts by weight of each ferrite powder with 0.25 parts by weight of
aminosilane (KBM-603, available from Shin-etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.),
heating the resultant mixture at 80°C for 3 hours in the air, and then cooling
it to room temperature was carried out. 90 parts by weight of each
surface-treated ferrite powder was melt-blended with 9.6 parts by weight of
12-nyIon (P-3014U, available from Ube Industries, Ltd.) and 0.4 parts by
weight of stearic acid amide (AP-1, available from Nippon Kasei K. K.) at
an initial temperature of 230°C by a high-temperature, high-pressure type
kneader, and pelletized to produce pellet-shaped compounds.

Each of compounds in EXAMPLE 5 and COMPARATIVE
EXAMPLE 3 was charged into an injection molding apparatus and
injection-molded into a cavity of a die having a magnetic circuit attached to
the injection molding apparatus, under the conditions of an injection
temperature of 280°C, an injection pressure of 1000 kgf/cm2 and an
orientation magnetic field intensity of 4.0 ±0.2 kOe, to form an anisotropic
bonded magnet of 20 mm in length x 20 mm in width x 10 mm in thickness.
Each bonded magnet was measured with respect to Br and iHc by a B-H
tracer at 20°C, and with respect to O4k0e by VSM at 20°C. The results are
shown in Table 4 together with the average diameter of ferrite powder
added to each bonded magnet.


As shown in Table 4, when measured on bonded magnets
containing ferrite powder having substantially the same average diameter,
it has been found that the anisotropic bonded magnet containing each
ferrite powder in EXAMPLE 5 had higher than the anisotropic bonded
magnet containing each ferrite powder in COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 3 by
70-130 G in Br and by 280-500 Oe in iHc. It has also been found from
investigation in connection with Table 4 that when the percentage of Co in
M is 50-90 atomic %, and when the average diameter is 1.0-1.5 μm, the
resultant bonded magnet has Br≥2.6 kG and iHc≥2.7 kOe, usable in high-
temperature applications. It has also been found that particularly when
the percentage of Co in M is 50-90 atomic %, and when the average

diameter is 1.0-1.3μ m, it is possible to achieve Br≥2.65 kG and iH≥3 kOe.
It has also been found that when the percentage of Co in M is 5 atomic %
or more and less than 50 atomic %, and when the average diameter is 1.0-
1.5 μm, the bonded magnet has Bn≥2.65 kG and iHc≥2.5 kOe, usable in
high-temperature applications. It has further been found that when the
percentage of Co in M is 5-30 atomic %, and when the average diameter is
1.0-1.3 μm, the bonded magnet has B2.7 kG and iHc≥2.5 kOe.
Next, a predetermined amount of ferrite powder in Sample Nos. 52
and 62 in Table 4 was sealed in a holder of VSM. The maximum
magnetization (o10kOe) was 71.0 emu/g (Sample No. 52) and 69.6 emu/g
(Sample No. 62), when a magnetic field of 10 kOe was applied at 20°C.
Further, anisotropic bonded magnets were produced by an injection
molding method for the measurement of magnetic properties in the same
manner as above except for using two types of compounds obtained from
the ferrite powder of Sample Nos. 52 and 62 in Table 4 at an orientation
magnetic field intensity of 10±0.2 kOe. As a result, the bonded magnet
formed from the ferrite powder of Sample No. 52 had Br of 2,830 G and
iHc of 3,440 Oe, and the bonded magnet formed from the ferrite powder of
Sample No. 62 had Br of 2,740 G and iHc of 2,900 Oe. This result
indicates the advantages of the ferrite powder of the present invention even
at a magnetic field intensity of 10 kOe.
EXAMPLE 6
Compounds were produced under the same conditions as in
EXAMPLE 5 except for using the ferrite powder of Sample No. 33

(EXAMPLE 4) in Table 3. Also, compounds of Sample No. 53
(EXAMPLE 5) and Sample No. 63 (COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 3) in Table
4 were prepared.
Each of the above three types of compounds was charged into an
injection molding apparatus and injection-molded into a cavity of a die
having a magnetic circuit attached to the injection molding apparatus,
under the conditions of an injection temperature of 280°C, an injection
pressure of 1000 kgf/cm2 and an orientation magnetic field intensity of 4.1-
4.2 kOe, to form a radially anisotropic bonded magnet of 13.6 mm in outer
diameter x 5 mm in inner diameter x 10 mm in width for rotors.
Each of the resultant three types of bonded magnets for rotors was
symmetrically provided with 10 magnetic poles under the conditions of
saturating magnetic properties, and then measured with respect to a surface
magnetic flux density at 20°C. The resultant surface magnetic flux
density distribution was used to determine the maximum surface magnetic
flux density of each magnetic pole, which was then averaged. The
averaged values are shown in Table 5.


COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 4
Trace amounts of Sio2 and Cr2o3 were added at the time of fine
pulverization of Sample No. 71 by dry ball milling, to produce ferrite
powder having an average diameter of 1.06 μm, with the amount calculated
as (SiO2 + CaO) and the amount calculated as (A1203 + Cr203) finally
adjusted as shown in Table 6. Bonded magnets were produced by using
the above ferrite powder in the same manner as in EXAMPLE 7 to measure
magnetic properties thereof. The results are shown as Sample Nos. 81
and 82 in Table 6.


EXAMPLE 7
High-purity recycled iron oxide shown in Table 1 was mixed with
predetermined amounts of SiO2, CaO, A1203 and Cr203 to produce ferrite
powder, whose magnetic properties were evaluated.
Ferrite powder having an average diameter of 1.05 μm was
produced in the same manner as in EXAMPLE 4 except for changing the
materials of a ball mill pot and steel balls to SUJ1 (C: 0.95-1.10 weight %,
Si: 0.15-0.35 weight %, Mn: 0.50 weight % or less, Cr: 0.90-1.20 weight %,
P: 0.025 weight % or less, S: 0.025 weight % or less), setting a peripheral
speed at 0.5 m/second, and carrying out immersion in water, drying and
sieving in a clean room after a heat treatment. A bonded magnets was
produced in the same manner as in EXAMPLE 4 to measure magnetic
properties thereof. The results are shown as Sample No. 71 in Table 6.
In this ferrite powder for bonded magnets, ASi02 = 0.062 weight %, and
ACr203 = 0.006 weight %.
Trace amounts of Si02 and Cr203 were added at the time of fine
pulverization of Sample No. 71 by dry ball milling, to produce ferrite
powder having an average diameter of 1.05-1.06 μm, with the amount
calculated as (Si02 + CaO) and the amount calculated as (A1203 + Cr203)
finally adjusted as shown in Table 6. Bonded magnets obtained by using
each ferrite powder were measured with respect to magnetic properties in
the same manner as above. The results are shown as Sample Nos. 72-75
in Table 6.

weight % or less (Sample Nos. 71-75), higher Br was obtained than Sample
No. 42. Particularly when the value of (Si02 + CaO) was 0.15 weight %
or less, and when the value of (A1203 + Cr203) was 0.1 weight % or less, Br
exceeded 2700 G. On the other hand, Sample No. 81 having (Si02 +
CaO) exceeding 0.2 weight %, and Sample No. 82 having (A1203 + Cr203)
exceeding 0.13 weight % showed lower Br than Sample No. 42.
As a result of considering the variation of ASi02, ACr203, (Si02 +
CaO) and (A1203 + Cr203) shown in Tables 3 and 6, and the purity of
recycled iron oxide shown in Table 1, it has been found that to achieve high
Br, the total of a Si content calculated as Si02 and a Ca content calculated
as CaO is preferably 0.06 weight % or less, more preferably 0.05 weight %
or less, particularly preferably 0.04 weight % or less, and the total of an Al
content calculated as A1203 and a Cr content calculated as Cr203 is
preferably 0.1 weight % or less, more preferably 0.09 weight % or less,
particularly preferably 0.08 weight % or less in the iron oxide used.
EXAMPLE 8, COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 5
The coarse powder produced in EXAMPLE 5 was subjected to fine
pulverization by a wet attritor. The concentration of a slurry was an initial
slurry concentration calculated from the weight W1 (kg) of coarse ferrite
powder and the weight W2 (kg) of water used, by the equation of
[W1/W1 + W2)] x 100 (%). After fine pulverization, ferrite powder for
bonded magnets having an average diameter shown in Table 7 was
produced in the same manner as in EXAMPLE 4 to evaluate the properties
of the resultant bonded magnets. Br and iHc of each bonded magnet

measured at 20°C are shown in Table 7. The fine pulverization of Sample
No. 523 by an attritor only achieved fine powder of 1.17 μm, because of
low slurry concentration. It has been found that when the initial slurry
concentration was 66 weight % or more, it is difficult to carry out
pulverization to an average diameter of 1.5 μm or less, resulting in a slurry
containing much coarse powder.

It has been found from Table 7 that when the initial slurry
concentration at the time of fine pulverization by a wet attritor is 60-65
weight %, high Br substantially corresponding to that obtained by dry ball
milling can be obtained.
EXAMPLE 9, COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 6

Dry ball-milled fine powder having an average diameter of 1 μm in
EXAMPLE 4 was formed to ferrite powder for bonded magnets (average
diameter: 1.05-1.10 μm) in the same manner as in EXAMPLE 4 except for
carrying out a heat treatment under the conditions shown in Table 8, and
the properties of the resultant bonded magnets were evaluated. The
results are shown in Table 8.

It has been found from Table 8 that the heat treatment conditions are
preferably 750-950°C x 0.5-3 hours. When a heat treatment was carried
out at 750-800°C for over 3 hours, the saturation of iHc was observed.
Agglomeration was observed by heating nearly under the conditions of

EXAMPLE 10, COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 7
The same heat-treated ferrite powder as Sample No. 52 (EXAMPLE
5) in Table 4 was subjected to wet disintegration under the conditions
shown Table 9, and ferrite powder for bonded magnets having an average
diameter of 1.05-1.06 μm was produced in the same manner as in
EXAMPLE 5 to evaluate magnetic properties. The results are shown in
Table 9.

It has been found from Table 9 that when immersion in water,
immersion in isopropyl alcohol, and agitation in water by a Henschel mixer
(1 minute) or pulverization in water by an attritor (30 seconds) are carried
out after the heat treatment, Br is improved. By this wet disintegration,
ASi02 became less than 0.02 weight %, and ACr203 became less than 0.001

EXAMPLE 11, COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 8
To produce magnet roll for copiers from ferrite powder, compounds
A-E having the following compositions were prepared.
The formulations of the compounds A-E were 91.5 parts by weight
of ferrite powder for bonded magnets, 6.2 parts by weight of EEA (MB-
870), 1 part by weight of a dispersant (DH-37), 0.5 parts by weight of a
lubricant (Slipacks E),.and 0.8 parts by weight of silicone oil (KF968,
available from Shin-etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.). The other conditions were
the same as in EXAMPLE 4 to produce each compound.
(a) Compound A
A compound obtained by mixing magnetic powder of Sample No.
33 (EXAMPLE 4) in Table 3 with EEA.
(b) Compound B
A compound obtained by mixing ferrite powder having an average
diameter of 1.14 μm produced under the same conditions as in EXAMPLE
4 except for using La-Co-Zn coarse powder of Sample No. 6 in Table 2
with EEA.
(c) Compound C
La-Zn coarse powder of Sample No. 7 in Table 2 was finely
pulverized by a wet attritor (solvent: water) to an average diameter of 0.95
μm. The resultant slurry was wet-molded in a magnetic field of 12 kOe to
produce a green body, which was then dried, disintegrated by a jaw crusher
and sieved to provide molding powder having an average diameter of 2.5

μm; Next, a heat treatment was carried out at 830°C for 3 hours, and then
immersion in water, drying, and disintegration by sieving were carried out
in the same manner as in EXAMPLE 1 to provide anisotropic granulated
powder. The compound C is an EEA compound containing such
granulated powder,
(d) Compound D
The compound D is an EEA compound containing anisotropic
granulated powder having an average diameter of 3 μm. This anisotropic
granulated powder was produced as follows. First, La-Co coarse powder
of Sample No. 3 in Table 1 was finely pulverized by a wet attritor (solvent:
water) to an average diameter of 0.90 μm. The resultant slurry was wet-
molded in a magnetic field of 10 kOe to produce a green body. After
demagnetization, the green body was heat at 100°C or lower in the air to
remove water and then cooled. After disintegration by a jaw crusher,
sieving was carried out to provide powder having an average diameter of
more than 2 μm and 15 μm or less. Next, a heat treatment was carried out
at 750-1000°C for 1 hour, and then immersion in water, drying, and
disintegration by sieving were carried out in the same manner as in
EXAMPLE 4 to provide anisotropic granulated powder.
A fraction separated from the resultant anisotropic granulated
powder, which had an average diameter of 3 μm, was measured with
respect to magnetic properties by VSM. Each anisotropic granulated
powder and wax at a predetermined ratio and at a constant total weight
were charged into a holder of VSM and sealed. Thereafter, while
applying a parallel magnetic field of 5 kOe, VSM was heated to melt the

wax and then cooled to solidify the wax in a state that magnetic powder
was oriented. In this state, a demagnetization curve was obtained at room
temperature to determine Br and iHc corrected to a state of 100-%
magnetic powder. The results are shown in Figs. 3 and 4. When the
heat treatment temperature was selected to 750-950°C, Br of 3.5-3.75 kG
and iHc of 2.85-4.75 kOe were obtained. Incidentally, when the average
diameter exceeded 10 μm, about 5% decrease in Br was observed when
compared at the same heat treatment temperature in Fig. 3. The EEA
compound was prepared by using the anisotropic granulated powder having
an average diameter of 3 μm subjected to a heat treatment at 800°C for 1
hour,
(e) Compound E
This is an EEA compound of COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2
containing the magnetic powder of Sample No. 43 in Table 3.
Each of the compounds A-E was charged into a molding apparatus
6 shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and made anisotropic by passing through an
orientation die 7 mounted to a tip end of the molding apparatus 6. The
resultant cylindrical molded article was cooled, demagnetized and then cut
to a predetermined length. After a shaft 12 was fixed into a center hole of
this integral molded article (outer diameter: 18 mm, inner diameter: 8 mm,
length: 300 mm), unsymmetrical 4 magnetic poles were formed on a
surface of the cylindrical bonded magnet. It was then assembled in a
sleeve 2 made of an aluminum alloy having an outer diameter of 20 mm to
obtain a magnet roll 1 having a radially anisotropic bonded magnet shown
in Fig. 7.

Table 10 shows the measurement results of a surface magnetic flux
density (B0) on a surface of the sleeve 2 at a center point in a longitudinal
direction immediately above an N1 pole. A gap between an outer surface
of the cylindrical anisotropic bonded magnet 11 and an outer surface of the
sleeve 2 was 1.0 mm.
It has been found from Table 10 that the use of the compounds A-D
improves the surface magnetic flux density on the sleeve 2 of the magnet
roll 1. The compounds C and D are good in moldability, showing
molding efficiency (number of cylindrical bonded magnets 11 formed per
unit time) 5-10% higher than the compounds A, B and E.
Next, the cylindrical, radially anisotropic, bonded magnet formed
from the compound A was cut to provide test pieces for the measurement
of magnetic properties at 20°C. Br was 3030 G.
The above cylindrical bonded magnet 11 is preferably in the form
of a cylinder having an outer diameter D = 10-60 mm, a length L = 200-
350 mm, and L/D ≥5, and it has preferably a small diameter of D = 10-30
mm, particularly D = 10-20 mm and L/D≥5 for small copiers or printers.


Next, the cylindrical bonded magnets formed from the compounds
A and D were measured with respect to a surface magnetic flux density on
an outer surface along an N1 pole in a longitudinal direction. The results
are shown in Figs. 8(a) and (b). As is clear from Figs. 8(a) and (b), the
cylindrical bonded magnet formed from the compound D had smaller
unevenness in a surface magnetic flux density in a longitudinal direction
than the cylindrical bonded magnet formed from the compound A. This
verifies that by using the anisotropic granulated powder, bonded magnets
having improved evenness in a surface magnetic flux density can be
obtained.
The above EXAMPLES show the case of radial anisotropy, an
extrusion molding method imparting polar anisotropy may be selected.
The shape of the bonded magnet is not limited to a hollow cylinder, but any
shape including solid cylinder may be adopted.
Though the above EXAMPLES show Sr ferrite powder containing
the R element and the M element, it is expected that Ba ferrite powder

containing the R element and the M element also has higher Br (or higher
Br and iHc) than those of the conventional Sr and/or Ba ferrite powder.
Though the above EXAMPLES show injection molding and
extrusion molding, compression molding is also applicable to produce
bonded magnets having high Br and (BH)max.
APPLICATIONS IN INDUSTRY
High-performance ferrite powder for bonded magnets having higher
Br (or higher Br and iHc) than the conventional Sr and/or Ba ferrite powder
for bonded magnets can be obtained by adjusting to the above basic
composition and by controlling the amounts of impurities of Si, Ca, Al and
Cr. The bonded magnets obtained from such ferrite powder are
advantageous over the conventional bonded magnets because of higher iHc
and at least equivalent Br, as well as the reduced unevenness of a surface
magnetic flux density.
Particularly when the bonded magnet of the present invention is
used, the resultant magnet roll can be provided with a lot of magnetic poles
showing radial or polar anisotropy with reduced unevenness in a magnetic
flux density in a longitudinal direction. The bonded magnet also has a
good dimension stability even when it is produced by molding in a
magnetic field.

WE CLAIM:-
1. A bonded magnet comprising a heat-treated ferrite powder for bonded
magnets and a binder, said ferrite powder for bonded magnets having a
magnetoplumbite-type crystal structure and a basic composition represented
by the following general formual:
(A1-xRx)O.n[(Fe1-yMy)203] by atomic ratio,
wherein A is Sr and/or Ba; R is at least one of rare earth elements including Y,
La being indispensable; M is Co and/or Zn; and x, y and n are numbers
meeting the following conditions:
0.01≤x≤0.4,
0.005≤y≤0.04,
[x/(2.6n)]≤y≤[x/1.6n)], and
5≤n≤6,
said bonded magnet having a coercivity (iHc) of 2,310 Oe or more and a
residual magnetic flux density(Br) of 2,580 G or more.
2. The bonded magnet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heat-treated
ferrite powder for bonded magnets has an average diameter of 0.9-2 μm.

A bonded magnet comprising a heat-treated ferrite powder for bonded
magnets and a binder, said ferrite powder for bonded magnets having a
magnetoplumbite-type crystal structure and a basic composition
represented by the following general formula:
(A1-xRx)0;n[(Fe1-yMy)2O3] by atomic ratio,
wherein A is Sr and/or Ba; R is at least one of rare earth elements
including Y, La being indispensable; M is Co and/or Zn; and x, y and n
are numbers meeting the following conditions:
0.01≤x≤0.4,
0.005≤y≤0.04, and
5≤n≤6,
said bonded magnet having a coercivity (iHc) of 2,310 Oe or more and a
residual magnetic flux density (Br) of 2,580 G or more.

Documents:

624-KOL-2005-FORM-27.pdf

624-kol-2005-granted-abstract.pdf

624-kol-2005-granted-claims.pdf

624-kol-2005-granted-correspondence.pdf

624-kol-2005-granted-description (complete).pdf

624-kol-2005-granted-drawings.pdf

624-kol-2005-granted-examination report.pdf

624-kol-2005-granted-form 1.pdf

624-kol-2005-granted-form 18.pdf

624-kol-2005-granted-form 2.pdf

624-kol-2005-granted-form 3.pdf

624-kol-2005-granted-form 5.pdf

624-kol-2005-granted-form 6.pdf

624-kol-2005-granted-pa.pdf

624-kol-2005-granted-priority document.pdf

624-kol-2005-granted-specification.pdf

624-kol-2005-granted-translated copy of priority document.pdf


Patent Number 229464
Indian Patent Application Number 624/KOL/2005
PG Journal Number 08/2009
Publication Date 20-Feb-2009
Grant Date 18-Feb-2009
Date of Filing 18-May-2005
Name of Patentee HITACHI METALS LTD.
Applicant Address 1-1 SHIBAURA 1-CHOME, MINATO-KU, TOKYO
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 YASUNOBU OGATA 5-14, KAMISHIBACHO-NISHI, 4-CHOME, FUKAYA-SHI, SAITAMA KEN
2 YUTAKA KUBOTA 450 NOBORI-SHINDEN, KUMAGAYA, SAITAMA-KEN
3 TAKASHI TAKAMI 450, NIBORI-SHINDEN KUMAGAYA-SHI, SAITAMA-KEN
4 SHUICHI SHINA 89-12, KIBE, MISATO-KU, KODAMA-GUN, SAITAMA-KEN
PCT International Classification Number HOIF13/00
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 10-11453 1998-01-23 Japan