The Problem:
Many of the permanent magnets currently being made are made of rare-earth metals. These metals have operational temperatures below 150°C. This is problematic for motor applications (i.e., electric motors) that require operational temperatures of at least 160°C, and leads to a loss in the magnetic properties of the metals. Further, sources for the rare-earth metals are limited to a few countries, and metal price is unpredictable/controlled by those countries, creating an unstable rare-earth metal market and expensive rare earth materials.
The Solution:
Researchers at the University of Alabama have developed magnetic exchange coupled core-shell nanomagnets to replace the use of rare-earth metal magnets. The technology consists of a method to produce barium hexaferrite nanoparticles for the creation of magnets that don't use rare-earth metals, allowing lower expense magnets that have operational temperatures over 250°C.
Experimental/Theoretical Magnetic Energies
Magnet Structure
Benefits:
• No rare-earth metals used: less expensive materials, easier obtainability.
• Higher Curie temperature than rare-earth permanent magnets.
• Invented core-shell nanomagnets can be used at 250°C.
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