METHOD FOR RECYCLING RARE EARTH-TRANSITION METAL BASED SCRAP, MAGNETIC POWDER FOR ABSORBING RADIO W

A method for recycling a rare earth-transition metal based scrap comprised of at least one of a failed article or an unwanted residue not constituting a product generated on the way of the production of a rare earth magnet or a hydrogen occluding alloy and a waste recovered from an used product having a rare earth magnet or a hydrogen occluding alloy, characterized in that it comprises subjecting the scrap to a heat treatment in an oxygen-containing atmosphere, to thereby carry out a disproportionation reaction, wherein the scrap is decomposed and fine transition metal based magnetic particles having a transition metal content higher than that of a rare earth-transition metal based inter-metallic compound as the main component of the scrap and having an average particle diameter of 500 nm or less and rare earth oxide particles mainly containing the remaining rare earth metal and having an average particle diameter of 500 nm or less are formed separately, and regenerate the scrap as a magnetic powder for absorbing a radio wave comprising a composite of fine transition metal based magnetic particles and a rare earth oxide. The method allows a rare earth-transition metal based scrap generating associated with the production or disposal of a rare earth magnet or a hydrogen occluding alloy to be effectively recycled at a low cost over the framework of regeneration to the same type of material.