  Micromagnetic simulations of alnico show substantial deviations from
Stoner-Wohlfarth behavior due to the unique size and spatial distribution of
the rod-like Fe-Co phase formed during spinodal decomposition in an external
magnetic field. The maximum coercivity is limited by single-rod effects,
especially deviations from ellipsoidal shape, and by interactions between the
rods. Both the exchange interaction between connected rods and magnetostatic
interaction between rods are considered, and the results of our calculations
show good agreement with recent experiments. Unlike systems dominated by
magnetocrystalline anisotropy, coercivity in alnico is highly dependent on
size, shape, and geometric distribution of the Fe-Co phase, all factors that
can be tuned with appropriate chemistry and thermal-magnetic annealing.
