NdFeB Magnet Corrosion Resistance via Grain Boundary Refractory Metals

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing NdFeB magnets exhibit low corrosion resistance against air, moisture, and salt, particularly at high temperatures, limiting their application in generators and electric motors.

Innovation Solution

A bi-phase alloy sintering method is employed to distribute refractory metals like Nb, Zr, Ti, or Mo primarily in the grain boundary phase of NdFeB magnets, enhancing high-temperature corrosion resistance without compromising magnetic properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If refractory metals are added to improve corrosion resistance, then corrosion resistance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters by adding specific refractory metals (Nb, Zr, Ti, Cr, or Mo) at controlled concentrations (0.1-5.0 at%) to the NdFeB alloy system. This parameter modification enhances corrosion resistance by forming protective oxide layers on the grain boundaries while maintaining the sintering process framework, thus improving reliability without excessive manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite microstructure where refractory metal-containing phases are distributed along the grain boundaries of the NdFeB main phase. This composite structure combines the high magnetic performance of NdFeB with the corrosion resistance of refractory metal oxides, achieving both improved reliability and controlled manufacturing complexity through a targeted composite material design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If refractory metals are added to enhance corrosion resistance, then corrosion resistance is improved, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion resistanceVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the concentration parameters of refractory metals to a narrow range (0.1-5.0 at%), which is sufficient to form effective protective oxide layers on grain boundaries. This parameter optimization achieves the desired corrosion resistance improvement while minimizing the addition of expensive refractory metals, thus balancing reliability enhancement with production cost control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies refractory metals locally at the grain boundaries rather than uniformly throughout the bulk material. This local quality approach concentrates the corrosion protection function where it is most needed (at grain boundaries which are susceptible to intergranular corrosion) while minimizing the overall amount of expensive refractory metals required, thereby improving reliability without excessive production cost increase

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method significantly improves high-temperature corrosion resistance and maintains magnetic properties, outperforming prior art by reducing surface corrosion and magnetic flux loss, while keeping production costs manageable.

Implementation Method 1

Common NdFeB magnets have a low corrosion resistance against air (mainly O2), moisture and salt

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

a bi-phase alloy sintering method is employed to distribute refractory metals like Nb, Zr, Ti, or Mo primarily in the grain boundary phase

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSintering: Sintering

Data Source

PatentEP2650886B1Preparation method for high-corrosion resistant sintered ndfeb magnet
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH

AI summary

The present invention provides high corrosion resistant sintered NdFeB magnets and preparation process thereof. The composition of said magnets by mass% is NdxRxlFe100-(x + xl + y + yl + z)TyMylBz, wherein 24 ≤ x ≤ 33, 0 ≤ x1 ≤ 15, 1.43 ≤ y ≤ 16.43, 0.1 ≤ yl ≤ 0.6, 0.91 ≤ z ≤ 1.07, R is one or more selected from the group consisting of Dy, Tb, Pr, Ce and Gd, T is one or more selected from the group consisting of Co, Cu and Al, M is one or more selected from the group consisting of Nb, Zr, Ti, Cr and Mo, and M is distributed within the grain boundary phase of the NdFeB magnets.