High performance permanent magnets

The demand for high performance permanent magnets for clean energy applications has increased enormously in recent years. These technologies require the conversion of a rotary motion to electricity via a generator, including wind turbines or motors, as used in hybrid or all-electric vehicles. Generators (and motors) rely upon a set of permanent magnets to provide magnetic fields. These are usually sintered from powders to form solids that contain crystal grains ranging from sub-micrometre to low-micrometre in size. Materials based on the Nd-Fe-B class are usually used (90% of the high performance permanent magnet market share) as these have the highest magnetic energy density (512 kJ.m-3). These materials typically contain a significant proportion of 'rare earth' elements - not just Nd but often also Pr and Dy. These improve the performance of the magnets but are expensive and have fluctuated in price significantly over recent years

This project will combine experiment and modelling to predict and test how performance can be improved through microstructure and composition changes. The candidate will develop and use state-of-the-art finite element modelling and advanced microstructure generation packages developed in-house to understand, predict and optimise key microstructural and magnetic properties. Experiments will use rapid manufacturing techniques, such as spark plasma sintering (SPS), and characterisation (EDS, SEM, EBSD) to study and characterise key parameters in commercial permanent magnets.