Material Insight: Magnet-to-Magnet™

Urban Mining Company reprocesses scrap magnets found in end-of-use products such as old hybrid electric vehicles and wind turbines into new, custom-made high-performance magnets.  The company is the first US commercial recycler of NdFeB (neodymium-iron-boron) magnets, a critical but finite resource for magnets with many applications. By using the technology, roughly 90% less energy is used while emitting 2,425 lb (1,100 kg) less CO2 per ton of magnet.

These magnets not only exhibit improved properties compared to the original scrap, but they also reduce raw material price fluctuations by using recycled magnets as the feedstock. The final shape of the magnets is not dependent on the feedstock used, and the patented grain-boundary engineering process provides complete control over the final composition, grade, and magnetic performance.