NdFeB alloys - Why are they so popular? And how are they processed?

Permanent magnets based on NdFeB (neodymium iron boron) are used in high-power-versus-weight electric motors (for example in hybrid cars) and generators (aircraft and wind turbine electric generators). They service a range of industries such as automotive, aerospace, health care, military and defense, and ‘green’ technology.

The established technology for producing alloys for sintered NdFeB magnets is strip casting. Raw materials are melted in a vacuum and molten alloy is passed over a water-cooled rotating copper wheel. The resulting rapidly quenched alloy solidifies in the form of a thin broken flake with a uniform, fine-grained microstructure as required for optimum magnet production.

LCM is the only Western World company currently strip casting NdFeB alloys on a commercial scale, with two 600kg scale furnaces giving capacity for around 1,400tpa of alloys.

We have listened to the industry and to facilitate different end-use compositions, LCM is now offering strip cast quantities as low as 100kg per composition. This will massively benefit the US market by assisting with small-quantity bespoke compositions to enable product development at a reduced cost. This news comes at a crucial time, as many companies in the permanent magnet industry are looking for an alternative supply chain.

NdFeB magnets are the most powerful permanent magnets commercially available. They are used in DC motors, sensors, chemical couplings and pumps. In recent years, there has been significant growth in green technologies requiring NdFeB magnets including electric vehicles and wind power generation.

If you have an enquiry, please reach out to our team at [email protected].