Key Findings
Researchers at the Jožef Stefan Institute in Slovenia have successfully recovered 92.5% of rare earths from used NdFeB magnets. This achievement was made possible through the application of electrochemical recycling combined with grain preservation techniques. The study, presented at the 2026 DIM-ESEE conference, synthesizes research conducted between 2019 and 2026.
Technical Details
The research compared different sintering methods for the recovered grains. Laboratory tests revealed that conventional liquid-phase sintering outperformed spark plasma sintering. The resulting magnets achieved a remanence of 1.26 T and a coercivity of 1,100 kA/m.
To further enhance performance, the researchers implemented a method to repair grain boundaries by adding a neodymium-copper alloy. This specific addition improved the magnet’s coercivity, which is the primary measure of a magnet’s resistance to demagnetization.
Background and Context
The study focuses on direct magnet recycling as a strategic alternative to the traditional supply chain. By recovering materials directly from used magnets, the process bypasses the need for newly produced metals or imported rare earth oxides. The findings presented at the DIM-ESEE conference represent a culmination of several years of technical development in electrochemical recovery and grain management.
Significance and Outlook
If the process can clear current pilot-scale and cost hurdles, it offers a viable path for Europe to reduce its strategic dependence on imported rare earth materials. However, the researchers noted that the process has not yet been validated at an industrial scale. Furthermore, the commercial cost competitiveness of this recycling method has not yet been assessed. The transition from laboratory success to industrial application remains the primary challenge for the widespread adoption of this high-performance recycling technique.
Source: https://rareearthexchanges.com/news/ndfeb-magnet-recycling-europe-grain-recovery/
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