SINTERED COMPACT FOR FORMING RARE EARTH SINTERED MAGNET, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAME

Provided is a method of manufacturing a sintered compact for forming a rare earth sintered magnet of a desired shape with high magnetic properties by suppressing variations in magnetic structure caused by pressurization, which is a disadvantage of pressure sintering. Further provided is a rare earth sintered magnet and the like having prescribed properties. A material for forming a rare earth magnet containing magnet material particles is filled into a mold in a state in which the easy axis of magnetization is oriented in a single plane. While a pressurizing force of a prescribed magnitude is exerted on the material for forming the rare earth magnet that has been filled into the mold, the material for forming the rare earth magnet is sintered by being heated to a sintering temperature, thereby forming a sintered compact in which the magnet material particles are integrally sintered. Thereafter, while a pressure lower than that of the pressurizing force during sintering is applied to the sintered compact, a high temperature heat treatment is performed within a maximum temperature range of greater than 900°C and lower than or equal to 1100°C, with the difference between this maximum temperature and the maximum temperature during pressure sintering being 250°C or lower.