Imagine making powerful magnets without using the expensive and hard-to-find metals that usually come from a few specific countries. Instead of the old way of mixing metals, this project uses a high-tech 'recipe' that mixes many elements together to get the best performance. It's like moving from a simple cake recipe to a professional culinary blend to make magnets that are tougher and more efficient.
Green energy transitions are stalled by a heavy reliance on critical metals like cobalt and rare-earths, which are subject to supply chain risks and high costs.
A design methodology for magnets using compositionally complex alloys (CCAs) based on hexagonal Fe2P- and MM'X-type compounds, validated via machine learning.
If you are an EV drivetrain manufacturer dealing with the volatile pricing and scarcity of rare-earth elements—this project developed a new design for magnets using compositionally complex alloys that eliminates or minimizes critical metals. This ensures a more stable supply chain for e-mobility motors.
If you are an industrial refrigeration company dealing with inefficient gas-compression cooling and high-GWP refrigerants—this project developed magnetocaloric materials that enable magnetic refrigeration. This provides a more efficient, green alternative to traditional cooling methods.
If you are a wind turbine generator producer dealing with the high material intensity of cobalt and rare-earths—this project developed magnets based on hexagonal Fe2P- and MM'X-type compounds. This reduces dependence on critical raw materials while maintaining the necessary mechanical and thermal stability.
Based on available project data, the project aims to eliminate or minimize the use of expensive critical metals like rare-earths and cobalt, which typically drive up material costs.
Based on available project data, the project is currently in the design and validation phase using machine learning and experimental cycles, meaning it is not yet at full industrial scale.
Based on available project data, the project is coordinated by TU Darmstadt with a consortium of 8 partners; specific licensing terms are not provided in the summary.
The project period runs from 2023-06-01 to 2026-05-31, suggesting that results will be finalized by mid-2026.
The project specifically addresses secondary engineering properties like mechanical and chemical stability to ensure the materials can meet the demanding attributes of modern conversion technologies.
The consortium is well-balanced for a translation project, featuring a 38% industry ratio with 3 SMEs and 3 larger industrial partners. With 8 partners across 6 countries (AT, DE, EL, ES, IT, SE), the project combines academic research from 4 universities with practical industrial application, increasing the likelihood of commercial uptake.
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