Tailored synthesis in nanoparticle permanent magnets (NPPMs)

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

Innovation 
Identified and prepared promising rare earth-free, non-critical metal eutectics to serve as low-temperature sintering aids and grain-boundary phases for Fe₁₆N₂ and Sm₂Fe₁₇N₃. 

Achievement
Suitable non-magnetic metal eutectics with melting points below the NPPMs’ decomposition temperatures, but higher than projected operating temperatures, have been prepared for Fe₁₆N₂ and Sm₂Fe₁₇N₃. 

Significance and Impact

• An appropriate eutectic compound will enable a scalable process that allows for uniform densification of the NPPMs with superior density to bonded magnets for high saturation magnetization while optimizing the grain boundaries to achieve near theoretical coercivity.
• Next step is to investigate reactivity and wettability of metal eutectics with magnetic phases and impact to magnetic properties as powders.

Hub Target Addressed 
Accelerated magnet discovery and maturation.