Fundamental Research for Utilization of Uranium Compound as the Magnetic Materials

Kimura, Akihiro; Yokoyama, Kaoru*

Numerous uranium compounds were synthesized and those physical properties have been measured until now, and it is known that those parts show the ferromagnetism. Moreover, it is reported the part of them also has the strong magnetic anisotropy by contribution of uranium. Since it is the indispensable requirements to have strong magnetic anisotropy for obtaining large coercive force required for a permanent magnet, the uranium compound may have possibility as an outstanding permanent magnet with depending on the combination of uranium and else addition elements. This research estimated the application possibility as permanent magnet materials by observing the magnetism with vibrating magnetization measurement equipment and the magnetic balance by preparing the ferromagnetic uranium compounds. Furthermore, magnetic field press, sintering and so on was carried out for the compounds with this possibility, and those magnetisms were evaluated. Through the above examination, it was cleared that UFe10Si2B0.25 satisfies the requirements as materials of a permanent magnet, and UFe13Si4 may be able to be also used as the materials by addition of boron because coercive force and residual magnetization increase, and so on. However, about the permanent magnets which were made from these materials, no sufficient coercive force and residual magnetization can be shown. It is thought that a processing method and so on will need to be improved.