Soft magnetic composite materials

A process for the manufacture of soft magnetic composite components comprising the steps of:

• die compacting a powder composition comprising a mixture of soft magnetic, iron or iron-based powder, core particles of which are surrounded by an electrically insulating, inorganic coating, and an organic lubricant in an amount of 0.05 to 1.5% by weight of the composition, said organic lubricant being free from metal and having a temperature of vaporisation less than the decomposition temperature of the coating;
• ejecting the compacted body from the die;
• heating the compacted body in a non reducing atmosphere to a temperature above the vaporisation temperature of the lubricant and below the decomposition temperature of the inorganic coating for removing the lubricant from the compacted body, and
• subjecting the body obtained after heating the compacted body in a non reducing atmosphere to heat treatment at a temperature between 300° C. and 600° C. in water vapour,
• wherein the lubricant is selected from the group consisting of primary amides and secondary amides of saturated or unsaturated fatty acids or combinations thereof, wherein the lubricant has a temperature of vaporization in air of between 200 to 350° C.

A process for the manufacture of soft magnetic composite components comprising the steps of:

• die compacting a powder composition comprising a mixture of soft magnetic, iron or iron-based powder, core particles of which are surrounded by an electrically insulating, inorganic coating, and an organic lubricant in an amount of 0.05 to 1.5% by weight of the composition, said organic lubricant being free from metal and having a temperature of vaporisation less than the decomposition temperature of the coating;
• ejecting the compacted body from the die;
• heating the compacted body in a non reducing atmosphere to a temperature above the vaporisation temperature of the lubricant and below the decomposition temperature of the inorganic coating for removing the lubricant from the compacted body, and
• subjecting the body obtained after heating the compacted body in a non reducing atmosphere to heat treatment at a temperature between 300° C. and 600° C. in water vapour,
• wherein the lubricant is selected from the group consisting of saturated or unsaturated fatty alcohols, wherein the lubricant has a temperature of vaporization in air of between 200 to 350° C.