We investigate the microstructural and magnetic property changes of DyH2, Cu + DyH2, and Al + DyH2 diffusion-treated NdFeB sintered magnets with the post annealing (PA) temperature. The coercivity of all the diffusiontreated magnets increases with increasing heat treatment temperature except at 910oC, where it decreases slightly. Moreover, at 880oC, the coercivity increases by 3.8 kOe in Cu and 4.7 kOe in Al-mixed DyH2-coated magnets, whereas this increase is relatively low (3.0 kOe) in the magnet coated with only DyH2. Both Cu and Al have an almost similar effect on the coercivity improvement, particularly over the heat treatment temperature range of 790-880oC. The diffusivity and diffusion depth of Dy increases in those magnets that are treated with Cu or Al-mixed DyH2, mainly because of the comparatively easy diffusion path provided by Cu and Al owing to their solubility in the Nd-rich grain boundary phase. The formation of a highly anisotropic (Nd, Dy)2Fe14B phase layer, which acts as the shell in the core-shell-type structure so as to prevent the reverse domain movement, is the cause of enhanced coercivity of diffusion-treated Nd-Fe-B magnets.

The mechanism of activated sintering of tungsten powder was discussed in terms of diffusion and segregation of activator atoms at W grain boundaries. Shrinkage behaviours of W-0.2wt.% Ni, W-0.2wt.% Cu or pure W powder compacts during sintering at low temperatures of 900~ were investigated. It was found that the Cu additive inhibits sintering process causing lower densification than pure W compact while remarkable shrinkage occurred in the Ni added W powder. Such contrary effect was explained by comparing self diffusion processes along Ni or Cu segregated W boundaries in which Ni segregants enhance but Cu atoms retard the migration of W atoms at W boundaries.