Nanocomposite magnets for energy applications: exploring hard phase/soft phase interfacial properties
EMSL Project ID
47409
Abstract
Exchange-spring magnets are nanocomposites that are composed of magnetically hard and soft phases that interact by magnetic exchange coupling. By theory, a composite magnet with ideal nanostructure, i.e., a homogeneous distribution of orientated hard phase particles (~100 nm average size) on a soft phase matrix, will result in an energy product two times of the current state-of-the-art magnet such as Nd-Fe-B based magnets. However, obtaining such nanostructure has been a grand challenge to the magnetic materials community in the past two dacades. In this proposal we intend to explore the pathway to improve exchange coupling at the hard/soft phases interface, in particular, to establish the relations between the atomic structure at the interface and various magnet fabrication techniques. Currently, a novel magnet fabrication method, friction consolidation and extrusion (FC&E), is being developed at PNNL. The method promises control and tenability of the interfacial properties. It is the objective of this proposal to identify suitable FC&E parameters for scale up processing to exceed the performance of traditional rare-earth based magnets currently used in permanent motor applications, such as power generators and traction motors in wind turbines and automobiles.
Project Details
Project type
Exploratory Research
Start Date
2012-07-20
End Date
2013-07-28
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Co-Investigator(s)
Team Members