40 MGOe magnet using Nd electrowon from chloride molten salts

CMI researchers from Ames National Laboratory conducted the activity for this highlight

Innovation
Demonstration of commercial-purity Nd production via commercially competitive NdFeB magnet fabrication.

Achievement
Electrolysis reactor with improved current distribution was designed, fabricated and operated, producing high-purity Nd metal at rates that are ~10X compared to SOTA. An NdFeB magnet with 40 MGOe energy product was successfully fabricated without the use of Dy, approaching the baseline N45 magnet. Next steps include process scale-up to reduce sample impurity variation, and better control of the magnet fabrication process.

Significance and Impact
Demonstration of NdFeB magnet (using Nd electrowon from  chloride MSE) with properties close to commercial NdFeB.

Hub Goal Addressed 
Energy-efficient rare earth metals production.
 

Hysteresis loops of NdFeB magnet produced with Nd from CMI MSE process (blue) and baseline magnet.
Hysteresis loops of NdFeB magnet produced with Nd from CMI MSE process (blue) and baseline magnet.