Magnetic materials play important roles in electrical products. These materials are usually manufactured by means of established production techniques and use of rare earth metals. Several research teams at TU Graz are working on alternative, more environmentally friendly production methods.
From wind turbines and electric motors to sensors and magnetic switching systems: permanent magnets are used in many different electrical applications. The production of these magnets usually involves sintering or injection moulding. But due to the increasing miniaturisation of electronics and the more exacting requirements, this places on magnetic components in terms of geometry, these conventional manufacturing methods are frequently coming up short. Additive manufacturing technologies, however, offer the required flexibility of shape, enabling production of magnets tailored to the demands of the application in question.
Tailor-made magnets
Researchers at TU Graz – in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Vienna and Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) as well as a team from Joanneum Research in Graz – have now succeeded in manufacturing super magnets with the help of laser-based 3D printing technology. The method uses a powdered form of the magnetic material, which is applied in layers and melted to bind the particles, resulting in components made purely of metal. The team of scientists have now developed the process to a stage where they are able to print magnets with a high relative density while still managing to control their microstructures. “The combination of both these features enables efficient material use because it means we can precisely tailor the magnetic properties according to the application,” explain Siegfried Arneitz and Mateusz Skalon from the Institute of Materials Science, Joining and Forming at TU Graz.
The initial focus of the research group was the production of neodymium, or NdFeB, magnets. On account of its chemical properties, the rare earth metal neodymium is used as the basis for many strong permanent magnets which are crucial components for lots of important applications, including computers and smartphones. The researchers have published a detailed description of their work in the journal Materials. In other applications, such as electric brakes, magnetic switches and certain electric motor systems, the strong force of NdFeB magnets is unnecessary and also undesirable.
Search for alternatives to rare earths
For this reason, Siegfried Arneitz, a PhD student at TU Graz’s Institute of Materials Science, Joining and Forming, is continuing the research into 3D-printed magnets by building on the results achieved so far. He is writing his dissertation on the 3D printing of Fe-Co (iron and cobalt) magnets. These magnets represent a promising alternative to NdFeB magnets in two respects: mining rare earth metals is resource intensive and not very attractive from a sustainability standpoint, and the recycling of such metals is still in its infancy. But Fe-Co magnets are less harmful to the environment.
Rare earth metals also lose their magnetic properties at higher temperatures, while special Fe-Co alloys maintain their magnetic performance at temperatures of 200° to 400° Celsius and demonstrate good temperature stability.
Arneitz is upbeat about his initial findings: “Theoretical calculations have shown that the magnetic properties of these materials can be improved by a factor of two or three. Given the flexibility of shape that 3D printing offers, we’re confident we can get closer to this goal. We’re going to continue working on this topic in collaboration with various other institutes so we can develop alternative magnetic materials for areas in which neodymium magnets are not necessary.”
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Fe-Co magnets
- Scientists simulate magnetization reversal of Nd-Fe-B magnets using large-scale finite element models
NIMS has succeeded in simulating the magnetization reversal of Nd-Fe-B magnets using large-scale finite element models constructed based on tomographic data obtained by electron microscopy.
- NPS: Man May Have Taken Dog on Wild Grand Canyon Ride
National Park Service officials are asking for the public's help in tracking down a man and his dog who they say may have tried to navigate the Grand Canyon in a homemade raft. KLAS reports that a ...
- Community leaders break ground on new all-girls, tuition-free private school in the West End
While the current all-boys school serves around 140 students, the addition of the girls school is expected to double the size of the student body.
- Scientists develop novel liquid metal alloy system to synthesize diamond under moderate conditions
Did you know that 99% of synthetic diamonds are currently produced using high-pressure and high-temperature (HPHT) methods? A prevailing paradigm is that diamonds can only be grown using liquid metal ...
- Q & A: Mezzo-Soprano Virginie Verrez on Her Roles & Journey in Opera
Opera singers, for the most part, seem to take on certain characteristics of the role they are portraying. But the French mezzo-soprano, Virginie Verrez, does not just portray the role—she becomes it.
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Fe-Co magnets
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Fe-Co magnets” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
3D-printed magnets
- Lithium battery sparks destructive house fire in Franklin
A Franklin family is picking up the pieces after a fire ripped through their home Thursday night, killing two animals and causing serious damage to the structure.
- Renault talks to China's Li Auto and Xiaomi on tech collaboration
Renault held talks this week with China's Li Auto and Xiaomi on electric and intelligent vehicle technologies, the French carmaker said on Friday, opening the door to potential collaboration on ...
- A framework to compare lithium battery testing data and results during operation
Reliably monitoring the amount of lithium (Li) present in rechargeable batteries, specifically in the so-called cathode active material (CAM), is key to understanding the condition of batteries from ...
- CATL’s new LFP battery promises a 10-min charge for 370 miles of range
If you do the math, it means CATL is offering an impressive charging rate of roughly 1 km/sec in a 10 minute quick charge.
- CATL's 1,000-km LFP EV battery super-charges at 1 km/sec
CATL made headlines around the globe last August when it presented the Shenxing battery, an LFP pack capable of adding 400 kilometers (249 miles) of range in a mere 10 minutes at the charger. Not a ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
3D-printed magnets
[google_news title=”” keyword=”3D-printed magnets” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]