# Micromagnetics of rare-earth efficient permanent magnets

## TL;DR

This paper explores how micromagnetic simulations can guide the development of rare-earth reduced or free permanent magnets by analyzing microstructure effects on magnetic properties.

## Contribution

It demonstrates the potential of micromagnetic simulations to optimize microstructure for high-performance rare-earth free permanent magnets.

## Key findings

- High coercivity achievable in grain boundary engineered NdFeB
- Rare-earth free magnets with excellent properties identified
- Microstructure optimization is key for performance enhancement

## Abstract

The development of permanent magnets containing less or no rare-earth elements is linked to profound knowledge of the coercivity mechanism. Prerequisites for a promising permanent magnet material are a high spontaneous magnetization and a sufficiently high magnetic anisotropy. In addition to the intrinsic magnetic properties the microstructure of the magnet plays a significant role in establishing coercivity. The influence of the microstructure on coercivity, remanence, and energy density product can be understood by {using} micromagnetic simulations. With advances in computer hardware and numerical methods, hysteresis curves of magnets can be computed quickly so that the simulations can readily provide guidance for the development of permanent magnets. The potential of rare-earth reduced and free permanent magnets is investigated using micromagnetic simulations. The results show excellent hard magnetic properties can be achieved in grain boundary engineered NdFeB, rare-earth magnets with a ThMn12 structure, Co-based nano-wires, and L10-FeNi provided that the magnet's microstructure is optimized.