Anticorrosion performance of sintered NdFeB magnets by EDM in different dielectric fluids

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to present an experimental investigation of improving the surface corrosion resistance of sintered neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets by electrical discharge machining (EDM) in different dielectric fluids.

Design/methodology/approach

Scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction were used to analyze the surface morphology and chemical structure of recast layers formed by EDM using kerosene and distilled water as the dielectric fluids. Polarization scans and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were applied to investigate the post-machining corrosion resistance.

Findings

The test results indicated that the recast layer produced during EDM had amorphous characteristics, and the newly formed amorphous structure could improve the corrosion resistance of the NdFeB material. The corrosion resistance of the recast layer formed in kerosene was better than that formed in distilled water.

Originality/value

Surface corrosion modification of sintered NdFeB magnets by means of electrical discharge with an ordinary copper electrode is proposed in this paper. The layer formed by EDM exhibits different behavior to that of the interior of the bulk material and improves the anti-corrosion performance of NdFeB magnets.

Citation

Li, L., Yang, S., Niu, Z., Zheng, G. and Sima, Z. (2015), "Anticorrosion performance of sintered NdFeB magnets by EDM in different dielectric fluids", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 62 No. 3, pp. 172-175. https://doi.org/10.1108/ACMM-01-2015-1487