Scientists in the Urals Increased the Stability of High-Efficiency Electric Motor Magnets by 3.7 Times

Researchers at the Ural Federal University have significantly improved the stability of magnets used in high-efficiency electric motors. If this method is successfully implemented in industrial production, Russia may obtain a unique technology with no analogues in the world.

Physicists at the Ural Federal University have increased the stability of nanocrystalline neodymium magnets used in high-efficiency electric motors (pumps for oil production, dentistry) and other equipment. The new approach made it possible to create magnets with rare earth metals that may be cheaper than analogues. And infiltration with a terbium alloy gave the maximum effect — the coercive force increased by 3.7 times and almost reached the theoretical limit for this material.

representative of the Ural Federal University

The scientists emphasized that if this method is successfully implemented at the industrial level, a technology may emerge in Russia that has no analogues in the world.

In their work, the scientists used a special material in the form of very small crystals, which is usually added to plastics and elastic materials to make them magnetic. They also created a special additive that melts easily and contains rare metals. When this additive was heated, it became liquid and enveloped the small crystals of the base material, as if creating a "shell" for them. The group leader, Alexey Volegov, said that this "shell" of rare metals prevents the crystals from losing their magnetic properties, making them much stronger.

The scientists emphasized that magnets made of neodymium-iron-boron alloy are the best in terms of attraction force. Now they want to learn how to print such magnets on a 3D printer so that magnets of any shape and complexity can be created.