A research group led by Professor Migaku Takahashi, Assistant Professor Tomoyuki Ogawa at Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, TODA KOGYO CORPORATION and other institutions has established a technology to synthesize ferromagnetic iron nitride that could not been separated nor synthesized in the form of powder for the first time in the world. The research groupshave worked on NEDO's "Rare Metal Substitute Materials Development Project".

 Ferromagnetic iron nitride is a material that may be superior to Nd-Fe-B bonded magnet, which is considered to be the strongest magnet. This achievement will lead to development of rare earth-less magnets.

 We are planning to design stronger magnet material, by analyzing the growth mechanism of ferromagnetic iron nitride and controlling its fine nanostructure. We will also promote practical application of rare earth-less magnets and motors, collaborating with magnet manufacturers.

 The project has been conducted in collaboration with 10 institutes consisting of Tohoku University, Kyoto University, Chiba Institute of Technology, Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts, Toda Kogyo Corp., Teijin Limited, Toyota Motor Corporation, National Institute for Material Science(NIMS), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Research Institute for Electric and Magnetic Materials.

Reference URL: https://app3.infoc.nedo.go.jp/informations/koubo/press/EF/nedopress.2011-03-01.8721249275/

EDIT

The research result was presented in NEDO on March 3, 2011, and reported by following news organizations:

broadcasted by NHK in "Biz Spo" on March 3, published in NIKKEI, Nikkei Sangyo, Nikkan Kogyo, The Chemical Daily, Nikkan Jidosha, Nikkan Sangyo, Japan Metal Daily, Kabushiki Shimbun, YOMIURI, ASAHI, Chugoku Shimbun on March 4, Nikkan Kensetsu Kogyo Shimbun on March 5, Kabushiki Shimbun on March 7.

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