Iron nitride magnetic powder and method of producing the powder

摘要

An iron nitride magnetic powder comprised primarily of Fe<Sub>16</Sub>N<Sub>2</Sub> phase is characterized in that its coercive force Hc is 200 KA/m or greater and bulk switching field distribution BSDF is 2 or less. The magnetic powder can be produced by allowing a nitriding reaction of Fe particles with a nitrogen-containing gas for producing nitrided particles of primarily Fe<Sub>16</Sub>N<Sub>2</Sub> phase to proceed under an increased pressure of 0.1 MPa or greater. The enhanced properties of the iron nitride magnetic powder make it suitable as a magnetic material for high-density magnetic recording media.