Fraunhofer develops new processes to recycle rare earth magnets
Germany's Fraunhofer Society is developing new upcycling techniques to extract rare earth elements like neodymium from permanent magnets.
Researchers at Germany's Fraunhofer Society are developing novel upcycling methods to recover valuable rare earth elements from permanent magnets. Neodymium-iron-boron magnets are vital components in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and consumer electronics such as smartphones and hard drives.
Global demand for these powerful permanent magnets is projected to increase by up to 8.3 percent annually. However, recycling critical raw materials like neodymium remains technically complex. The new processes aim to establish efficient material cycles, securing domestic supplies and reducing reliance on external imports for green technology manufacturing.
Sources: Fraunhofer