Rare Earths & Magnets: Expanding European Capacities 

PASSENGER among the protagonists of the momentum-building for a resilient, competitive, and sustainable European magnet value chain 

On 29 and 30 October, PASSENGER took the stage at the Rare Earths & Magnets: Expanding European Capacities conference, hosted at the iconic Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.  

Co-organised by EIT Raw Materials and PASSENGER, the project final conference was embedded in the EIT Rare earths and Magnets Strategic Impact Group Network (SIGN) event.  This two-day meeting brought together 150 representatives of the entire European rare earth and magnet ecosystem (from mining experts to OEMs, from researchers to policymakers) to accelerate Europe’s journey toward strategic autonomy in critical materials. 

 Need to turn intent into action 

The event was opened by EIT Raw Materials Bernd Schäfer, who gave the context for the contributions and discussions ahead. He highlighted how REEs and permanent magnets are at the heart of Europe technological development and how urgent it is to establish EU own and independent value chains, rather than relying on fluctuating and unstable markets linked to the uncertainty of the global geopolitical context. Key to the achievement of the scope are initiatives supporting capacity building, including investments in technology development and infrastructures, establishment of policy frameworks to allow industrial scale up, and support talent and skill development. 

During the two days of the event, through high-quality keynote presentations and engaged panel discussions, representatives from all the main stakeholders group contributed to the dialogue on how to guarantee Europe competitiveness in REEs supply and permanent magnets production, providing valuable insights and actionable steps to enable this effort. The list of speakers is available on the event agenda here. Key messages include: 

• The importance of dedicated policies like the flagship Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), which is supporting the achievement of Europe self-reliance in raw materials supply, the efforts to seal strategic partnerships with third countries to diversify development, production and trades, and how strategic projects under the CRMA are instrumental to increase EU capacity to extract, process and recycle strategic raw materials and diversify EU supplies from third countries. 

• The need to consider alternative pricing mechanisms for rare earths, addressing how Europe can mobilise the estimated €2 billion investment needed to build its full value chain by 2030 

• Sustainable magnet technologies as crucial building block for the future of strategic technologies for the digital and green transition, like electric mobility, whose demand is expected to substantially increase in the very near future (EU need of EV traction motors annually estimated in 21 million by 2037) 

• Collaboration and alignment in policy, investment, and partnerships are crucial to the establishment of an EU resilient and stable value chain for REEs and permanent magnets 

PASSENGER: Innovation in Action 

As part of the event, the PASSENGER project held its final conference, showcasing REE-free and sustainable magnet technologies developed throughout the project lifetime.  

The coordinator Rodolfo Miranda (IMDEA Nanoscience) held a speck during the event opening session, presenting the PASSENGER journey and highlighting the main achievements, milestones and the long-term perspective and impact generated by the project’s results. Specific contributions were delivered by other partners:  

• Karla Kosmač (Kolektor) and Paolo Bernardi (Industrie ILPEA) presented the high-performance ferrite magnets developed by PASSENGER, from ferrite powders to magnets manufacturing and testing and pilot-scale production progress 

• Martin Dopler (METALPINE) and Semih Ener (TU Darmstadt) showcased the strong potential application of manganese-based magnets, ideal candidates as “gap magnets” for use in strategic applications (e.g. when corrosion resistance is needed)   

• Fabio Scaffidi Muta (Centro Ricerche Fiat) and Martin Krengel & Matthias Schmude (Wilo Group) validated ferrite magnet performance in automotive and water pump systems, showing the suitability of PASSENGER magnets for applications that are key  

PASSENGER’s impact spans across economy, environment, and safety, proving that European innovation can deliver optimal alternatives to rare earth-based magnets and thus strongly support EU competitiveness and self-reliance for the permanent magnets value chain. 

The Ecosystem in Motion: CRMs4EU session 

During the event, a special session was dedicated to one of the major outcomes of PASSENGER: the establishment of the CRMs4EU cluster, which (as of October 2025) counts 17 EU-funded projects working to advance research and innovation to enable stable and resilient supply and value chains of critical raw materials. The cluster was greatly celebrated by representatives from 5 projects: 

• MAGELLAN, presented by Alexandre Damiens (Orano Group) 

• REEsilience and HARMONY, introduced by Maëva Pratlong (Steinbeis Europa Zentrum) 

• GREENE, pitched by the coordinator Kristina Žužek, (Jožef Stefan Institute) 

• REEPRODUCE – Felipe Guerrero, Business Developer, JGI Hydro Metal and Rare Earths Recycling 

Moreover, 2 other projects from the cluster, PERMANET and REMhub, were featured in the online poster session that was specifically created for the event.

All these projects are applying their unique approach and tacking specific scientific aspects to support the establishment of a resilient permanent magnets value chain, either by developing technology and processes for the recycling of EoL permanent magnets, improving the quality and output of magnets manufactured using secondary recovered REEs, as well as applying grain-boundaries engineering to the development of high performance permanent magnets with reduced REE content. 

 A Shared Commitment  

As the conference concluded with an exclusive tour of the Sindelfinden Mercedes-Benz assembly plant, one message resonated across all participants: Europe’s window is narrow but the will to act is strong. 

Using standards and creating new ones is essential for turning innovations into real market success and making industry more sustainable in the long term. Many studies clearly show how important this is. Anyone developing new technologies, materials, or applications can benefit greatly from standards. In fact, using them can be a key factor in whether an innovation thrives or fails. Although there’s no fully mature set of standards specifically for Rare Earth‑free Permanent Magnets (RE-Free PMs), some related shifts are underway. For example, the Critical Raw Materials Act[1] in the EU is pushing for reduced dependency on rare earths, broader material substitution, and will most likely incentivize standards and certification related to RE‑free options.

This intelligence bulletin aims to shed light on the current standardisation activities related to permanent magnets and to identify potential opportunities for the development of standards addressing rare-earth-free permanent magnets.

Introduction to Standardisation

Standards are technical specifications, agreed by the relevant stakeholders, subject to voluntary use, which are published by a recognized standardisation organisation.

Standards are a market intelligence tool for companies and SMEs, a quality tool for societal stakeholders and a tool for the deployment of regulations and policies for public authorities. Existing studies present standards as a catalyser of trade, and they are present in a significative percentage of the world commerce exchanges. According to the Public Procurement Directive[2], they can be cited as technical specifications in public procurements procedures. They can also be used as a reference in technical regulation and legislation. As an example, the so-called “harmonised standards” are the most practical and fast way to comply with the requirements of European Directives.

Standardisation is the process of drafting, agreement, and publication of standards. It is open to all interested parties, including companies, SMEs, universities, research institutes, associations, NGOs, public authorities, etc.

According to the European Industrial Strategy[3] and the European Green Deal[4], standardisation plays a crucial role in the sustainability and competitiveness of European industry. This is also acknowledged in the EU Strategy on Standardisation[5], focusing on the benefits of raising new standards from innovative knowledge. Companies and SMEs can be favoured from being the tractors of new standards covering their innovations, or some aspects of them, to protect their market expectations by creating confidence in customers, avoid barriers and leading the definition of new requirements instead of adapting their production practices and equipment to comply with external ones. Therefore, participation in standardisation activities should be a part of the commercial and exploitation strategy of companies, universities and research organisations.

STANDARDISATION AND PERMANET MAGNETS

Permanent magnets (especially rare earth permanent magnets like NdFeB, SmCo) are critical enablers of green technologies (EVs, wind turbines, electric motors, generators, consumer electronics, etc.). However, growing geopolitical risk, environmental concerns, supply chain fragility, and regulatory pressure are reshaping their landscape.

PASSENGER (Pilot Action for Securing a Sustainable European Next Generation of Efficient RE-free Magnets) is developing an innovative way to produce permanent magnets without rare-earth materials and is piloting the new magnets in the electromobility sector.

Rare‐earth‐free permanent magnets are magnetic materials that do not use (or use minimal) rare earth elements (REEs) like Neodymium (Nd), Praseodymium (Pr), Dysprosium (Dy), Terbium (Tb), etc. They typically rely on materials such as:

• Ferrites (e.g. strontium ferrite, barium ferrite)
• Manganese‑based magnets (e.g. Mn‑Bi)
• Other transition metal compounds (e.g. cobalt, FeNi, etc.)
• New composite / hybrid materials or enhancement of traditional ferrites through nano‑structuring, improved sintering, etc.

These RE‑free magnets generally offer lower maximum energy product (BH_max), possibly lower thermal stability or coercivity under some conditions than the best rare‐earth magnets; but they have big advantages in cost, supply risk, sustainability, and environmental footprint.

At present, the standardisation around permanent magnets tends to focus on materials which include rare earths (especially NdFeB, SmCo) or ferrite (which is RE‑free) but often as a lower grade class. The move toward new RE‑free materials reveals several gaps and emerging needs.

Existing standards covering Premanent Magnets

STANDARDISATION CHALLENGES AND OPPRTUNNITIES FOR RE-FREE PERMANET MAGNETS

In the field of standardisation, some progress has been made regarding permanent magnets, although the path is still at an early stage. However, for rare-earth-free permanent magnets, virtually no standardisation work has yet been undertaken.

Most of the ongoing developments related to permanent magnets concern testing methods, measurement techniques, traceability, and terminology – in other words, the supporting infrastructure. While these efforts do not currently encompass rare-earth-free permanent magnets, they are nonetheless valuable: before a material can be claimed to be “rare-earth-free,” agreed testing methods must exist to verify that its content falls below the defined thresholds.

For rare-earth-free permanent magnets, there remains a wide and largely unexplored area for standardisation. Advancing in this direction represents both a significant challenge and an important opportunity to address a field with strong future potential.

Some aspects that could be subject to standardisation include:

1. Performance Benchmarks for Novel RE‑Free Materials

Many new RE‑free materials have not yet been fully validated over temperature, mechanical stress, long‑term ageing etc. Standards may not yet exist that cover such performance for these new materials.

2. Measurement Methods Adapted to lower performance materials

Some test methods are optimised for high energy magnets (with rare earths). RE‑free magnets (especially ferrites, MnBi, composites) might require adapted protocols, tolerances, calibration.

3. Material / Composition Definitions

Existing standards define ferrite magnet types, classes etc. But for less common alloys (like MnAlC etc.), there’s a lack of standardized definitions or property class descriptions.

4. Design for Use / Application Performance

Motors and other devices using RE‑free magnets need standardisation for how magnets are integrated (mounting, bonding, assembly) to ensure mechanical stability, thermal management, demagnetization risk etc.

5. Environmental & Sustainability / Life‑Cycle / Eco‑Labelling

There is increasing pressure to evaluate environmental impacts (mining, processing, emissions, recycling). Standards for life‑cycle assessment, carbon footprint, recyclability etc. are still underdeveloped specifically for RE‑free magnets.

WHAT TO MONITOR MOVING FORWARD

To stay ahead of developments in rare-earth-free permanent magnets and the evolving standardisation landscape in this area, stakeholders should closely monitor developments in draft standards or working group formations that specifically call for rare earth-free or rare earth-reduced magnets.

Traditionally, standardisation has focused on areas already well established in the market, aiming to address issues related to trade, interoperability, or safety. However, standards are increasingly being employed as tools to promote the market adoption of innovative technologies.

Standards can be found on the searching engines for the catalogues of the Standardisation Organisations, accessible through:

• the CEN standards search engine
• the CENELEC standards search engine
• the ISO standards search engine
• the IEC standards search engine

The use of standardisation as a track to valorise research and innovation results is emphasized in the ‘EU Policy on Knowledge Valorisation’ (Council Recommendation (EU) 2022/2415) and the ‘Code of Practice on Standardisation in the EU research area’ (Commission Recommendation (EU) 2023/498), making special emphasis on Horizon Europe projects but also to other, public- or private-funded innovation results.

[1]  Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and amending Regulations (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1724 and (EU) 2019/1020 (Text with EEA relevance), see https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202401252

[2] Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on public procurement and repealing Directive 2004/18/EC, see https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/es/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32014L0024

[3] COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS A New Industrial Strategy for Europe COM/2020/102 final https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52020DC0102

[4] COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS The European Green Deal COM/2019/640 final https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2019%3A640%3AFIN

[5]  COM(2022) 31 final COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS An EU Strategy on Standardisation Setting global standards in support of a resilient, green and digital EU single market DocsRoom – European Commission (europa.eu)

PASSENGER project was proud to join the 14th edition of the Joint European Magnetic Symposia (JEMS 2025) in Frankfurt, Germany, on 24 – 29 August 2025. Organised under the umbrella of the European Magnetism Association (EMA), JEMS is one of the major international events about magnetism, gathering 700+ attendees from Europe and overseas countries.  

We are delighted that PASSENGER partners from Technical University of Darmstadt (TUDA) had a pivotal role in the organisation of this year’s edition, with Prof. Oliver Gutfleisch as conference chair and the local organising committee led by the team of the Functional Materials group (TUDA). 

Over the course of an inspiring week, our partners present on site showcased exciting and major achievements of PASSENGER on the development and validation of REE-free permanent magnets, engaging in fruitful discussions, and connecting with the international magnetics community. 

Scientific Contributions 

Contributions from PASSENGER were included in the conference scientific programme, providing experimental work details and data on the REE-free magnets produced by the project and their properties: 

• Dr. Semih Ener (TUDA) presented his poster “Investigation of hot compacted MnAl magnets: corrosion response and effect of Bi as a binder.”
  This research, carried out within the PASSENGER framework, focuses on MnAlC magnetic materials as promising REE-free alternative for permanent magnets with high resistance to corrosion and tunable magnetic properties.  

• Adrián Fernández Calzado gave a talk on “Nanostructuring Ce- and Mn-Doped Sr-Ferrites for Tuned Magnetic Properties,” highlighting PASSENGER’S work on enhancing ferrites performance for next-generation sustainable magnets. 

Exhibition time 

Following up on the great success and engagement during the previous edition of JEMS, PASSENGER hosted a booth in the conference exhibition. Visitors were welcomed by Dr. Nik Tankov (Less Common Metals Ltd.) and Dr. Stefania Vitale (European Science Foundation), who presented PASSENGER’s mission to the many experts and researchers who came to visit: to develop innovative, sustainable magnetic materials free from rare earth elements (REEs).  And it was not only a matter of talking: the booth visitors could see and touch two demonstrators that successfully implemented and validated PASSENGER’s REE-free improved strontium ferrite magnets, namely a water pump manufactured by project partners at WILO and the headlights step-motor system of Maserati M182 provided by partners from Centro Ricerche Fiat. To complete the demonstrators lineup, three specimens were showcased of improved strontium ferrite-based rotor prototypes, manufactured by partners from Kolektor.  

As the week came to a close, we were grateful for the many researchers, academics, and industry experts who stopped by our booth. The exchange of ideas, feedback, and enthusiasm fuels PASSENGER’s mission and strengthens our community. 

Coming soon 

JEMS 2025 was a fantastic milestone — but there’s more to come! 
We look forward to welcoming you at the PASSENGER Final Conference: 

📍 Stuttgart, Germany 
📅 29–30 October 2025 
👉 More info here 

Rare Earths and Magnets: Expanding  European capacities

Joint Conference with EIT RawMaterials

 29 – 30 October 2025, Stuttgart

Since its launch in 2021, PASSENGER has successfully advanced the development of rare-earth-free permanent magnets. By pioneering innovative technologies that substitute rare-earth elements (REEs), the project directly addresses Europe’s reliance on REE imports, supporting the creation of a stable, sustainable, and resilient European value chain.
These advancements are critical for strategic applications, including electric vehicles and water pump motors, where permanent magnets play a key role.
As the project reaches its final stages, the PASSENGER Final Conference will highlight major achievements, promote European leadership in sustainable magnetics, and explore pathways for market adoption and policy integration.

The event will be held within the SIGN conference, following the successful launch of the EIT RawMaterials Rare Earths & Magnets Strategic Impact Group Network (SIGN) in April. It will gather leading industrial and research stakeholders to advance a resilient and sustainable European Rare Earth and Magnet strategy. A dedicated session will focus on innovation, sustainability, and collaboration, covering various topics such as supply chain diversification and promoting circularity through cross-sector initiatives.

Thematic Focus

Alongside a guided visit to the Mercedes-Benz assembly plant, the programme will explore the intersection of innovation, sustainability, and industrial collaboration. Key topics include:

• Alternative magnet and motor technologies

• Pathways to diversified and de-risked magnet supply chains in the European Circular Economy

• Investment in EU Strategic Projects and international supply chain partnerships

• Attracting and nurturing talent for the sector

Register Now!

On 18 July, Less Common Metals welcomed researchers from the University of Liverpool and the University of Manchester to discuss the latest developments and projects with particular emphasis on rare earth free permanent magnets, highlighting LCM’s role in the PASSENGER project.  

LCM is the world leader in the manufacture and supply of complex alloy systems and metals, as well as the only rare-earth alloy producer in Europe which supplies alloys at the global level. LCM is also the only producer outside the Far East able to produce rare-earth metals and master alloys by fused salt electrolysis. The company has recently announced the expansion of their metal making capabilities to include Dy, Tb and DyFe. 

Within the PASSENGER project, LCM leads the Pilot Plant 1, which aims to scale up fabrication of the Mn-Al-C alloy by casting to develop Mn-Al-C permanent magnets, supporting Europe’s transition to a sustainable and resilient supply chain for critical raw materials.  

Less Common Metals, world leader in the manufacture of alloys by casting technologies, uses unique processing technologies and routes to produce Mn-Al-C powder. Along with METALPINE (specialised in metal powder production by gas-atomization), IMA and TUDA, they are working towards the upscaled fabrication of the Mn-Al-C alloy.  

This event served as a platform to showcase technical progress and foster collaboration between local industry and academic stakeholders as we tackle the challenges of sustainable innovation. The day opened with a keynote from LCM’s Senior Process Engineer, Dr. Nik Tankov, on developing sustainable rare-earth free permanent magnets, a pressing topic as the world seeks to reduce dependency on critical raw materials. He also presented the PASSENGER project and LCM’s involvement in it. Dr. Leo Zhidong from the University of Liverpool then presented his work on advanced 3D printing for functional and smart materials. After a collaborative networking lunch, guests joined a guided tour of LCM’s facility, gaining insight into the processes behind their specialist alloys and materials. The afternoon continued with talks from Dr. Peng Gong (University of Manchester), who presented her work on hydrogen embrittlement in steels. Followed by Dr. Elisabetta Mariani (University of Liverpool) highlighting the Materials Innovation Factory which is part of the University of Liverpool, and her research on characterisation of critical raw materials and their sources.  

For more information about LCM’s work in the PASSENGER Project, visit: PASSENGER Pilot Plant 1 – Less Common Metals. 

PASSENGER is proud to be part of the Sustainable CRMs4EU cluster, and now we are excited to showcase our first-ever logo! 

What is CRMs4EU? 

Europe’s future hinges on the availability of critical raw materials (CRMs), which are essential for everything from digital technologies to clean energy systems. Ensuring a stable, resilient, and sustainable supply of these materials is a major challenge, and it’s one the CRMs4EU cluster is taking on together. 

The Sustainable CRMs4EU cluster (short CRMs4EU) brings together 17 EU-funded projects focused on critical raw materials. These projects span a wide range of innovations, from sustainable mining and advanced exploration to cutting-edge recycling methods and material substitution. Each project contributes a unique approach – but we share a common goal: making the EU sustainable and self-reliant in the supply of critical raw materials for the green and digital transition. 

By joining forces, the cluster members aim to strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy in raw materials and support the goals of the EU Critical Raw Materials Act. 

A Logo that Reflects Our Mission 

Until now, the cluster has been a powerful but informal collaboration. With our new logo, we take a major step forward in presenting ourselves as a cohesive, recognisable entity. 

The logo visualises our shared identity through: 

• Circular elements, symbolising both industrial innovation and circular economy principles 

• Earth-inspired colours, representing the natural origins of CRMs 

• A forward-moving arrow, echoing technological progress and Europe’s green and digital transition 

It’s more than a visual – it’s a shared symbol of commitment. 

Building a Collaborative Ecosystem 

The CRMs4EU cluster is more than just a name or a logo. It’s a dynamic and growing ecosystem of EU-funded research and innovation projects that: 

• Share resources, knowledge, and expertise 

• Align communication and policy efforts 

• Multiply impact through joint actions and coordinated outreach 

Together, we’re working across the entire value chain, from geology to policy, to ensure a resilient and sustainable CRMs supply for Europe. 

PASSENGER in CRMs4EU 

At PASSENGER we are proud to have made the first move for the establishment of the CRMs4EU cluster!  

Back in December 2023, PASSENGER launched the first campaign to call on related projects interested in collaboration opportunities, initiating efforts to support networking. What started with a meeting in February 2025, with 8 projects gathering to discuss concrete joint actions on cross-cutting issues, challenges and opportunities, has ever since kept growing and attracting interest. As of today, 17 projects joined the CRMs4EU group, connecting to jointly contribute to a more coordinated, strategic approach to Europe’s raw materials challenges, and helping shape the future of responsible resource use.  

Video produced by Larissa Markus, ESCI

Get involved

The CRMs4EU cluster is open to additional EU-funded projects working in the fields of raw materials, Earth observation, and sustainable supply chain innovation. 

To express your interest or request further information, fill in this introductory form. 

Let’s build a stronger, greener, and more self-reliant Europe – together! 

PASSENGER study demonstrates water-resistant alternatives to rare earth magnets

Every journey toward sustainability begins with a challenge. For magnets, this challenge is creating alternatives to rare earth elements that can withstand real-world conditions. The PASSENGER research team has tackled this by developing and testing new magnets with promising results.

Our recent comprehensive study on manganese-aluminum-carbon (Mn-Al-C) magnets investigated their chemical, physical, and magnetic properties, with a particular focus on corrosion resistance. The tests demonstrated that these innovative magnets maintain remarkable stability during extended water exposure, opening possibilities for transforming applications from water pumps to other aqueous environments.

From challenge to solution

Among the alternatives that do not contain rare earth elements, Mn-Al materials stand out as a particularly promising solution.  What’s truly exciting about these magnets is their environmental footprint. According to the research team, we can produce them with readily available materials using scalable, low-cost manufacturing techniques, while still achieving impressive durability in everyday applications.

“We are essentially creating a middle ground,” explains Dr. Semih Ener from the Technical University of Darmstadt, who led the research. “These magnets have the potential to bridge the gap between basic ferrite magnets and high-performance rare earth magnets, offering a sustainable alternative for many common applications.”

Testing the waters

The team conducted a rigorous four-week testing program using multiple analytical techniques to evaluate the long-term effect of exposure to different environments on the material properties. They exposed the magnets to different aqueous solutions – from regular tap water to specially purified water and selected acidic solutions – and monitored their response. Using specialized equipment and electron microscopy, researchers tracked changes in the magnets’ structural integrity and magnetic properties. The sample magnets, made from manganese and aluminum with small amounts of carbon (Mn-Al-C), showed remarkable stability in regular water conditions during the testing period. This characteristic makes them particularly suitable for applications like water pump motors, electric bikes, and other devices where exposure to moisture is common.

However, the study also revealed some limitations. While the magnets performed well in regular water, they showed vulnerability to saltwater and low pH conditions, with noticeable degradation occurring in these environments. The researchers suggest that additional protective measures, such as specialised coatings, might be necessary for more demanding environments – a challenge they are already working to address.

Why it matters

The timing of this research is particularly relevant as global markets grapple with rare earth element supply chains. Traditional high-performance magnets rely heavily on rare earth elements, primarily sourced from a limited number of countries, leading to price volatility and supply chain vulnerabilities. Europe’s dependency on these materials is particularly acute – the region currently imports nearly 98% of its rare earth magnet needs, making the development of alternatives a strategic priority.

Mind the Gap

The implications of this research extend beyond just technical achievements. As the world moves toward electrification and sustainable energy, the demand for magnets continues to grow. Electric vehicles, wind turbines, and countless everyday devices rely on permanent magnets. Having a middle-range option – a “gap magnet” as researchers call it for use in applications where high-performance is not required – that doesn’t depend on rare earth elements could help diversify the supply chain and reduce environmental impact.

“We are not suggesting these will replace high-performance rare earth magnets in all applications,” the team clarifies. “But for many everyday uses where top-tier performance isn’t critical, these could offer a more balanced, sustainable and affordable alternative.”

The road ahead

While the study results are promising, the research team is already looking to the future. Through the EU-funded PASSENGER project (Pilot Action for Securing a Sustainable European Next Generation of Efficient RE-free magnets) and the RecycleTEAM project, researchers are exploring ways to enhance these magnets’ performance in more challenging environments and bring them from laboratory success to real-world implementation.

Want to be part of this journey?

• Explore detailed findings: Rocabert, U., Parnicki-Krollik, M. A., Maccari, F., Tankov, N., & Ener, S. (2025). Comprehensive Study of τ-Phase Mn–Al–C Magnets: Corrosion Resistance, Structural Integrity, and Magnetic Properties. ACS Omega, 10(1), 683-691. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.4c07540
• Connect with the study’s corresponding author: Semih Ener at semih.ener[at]tu-darmstadt.de
• Recommended reading: PASSENGER factsheet #2: Navigating the EU path in securing Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) for a sustainable future

Acknowledgements

This research was performed within the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme through the project PASSENGER (Pilot Action for Securing a Sustainable European Next Generation of Efficient RE-free magnets) under grant agreement No 101003914 and the RecycleTEAM project (Project-ID 30EN2056D).

Engage with PASSENGER at the Raw Materials Week! Organised by the European Commission, this flagship policy event on raw materials gathers every year stakeholders from industry, academia, research organisations and policymakers. The 2024 edition will be held in Brussels on 9-13 December 2024.

PASSENGER will be participating in multiple events throughout the week, presenting its achievements in developing technology for rare earth-free permanent magnets and promoting a shift towards a more sustainable European value chain which is less reliant on critical raw materials.

Horizon Technology Success Stories

• 9 December at 14:00, hear from partner Semih Ener (Technische Universität Darmstadt) in the session on “Horizon Technology Success Stories”, co-organised by the Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). Find out the programme on the Raw Materials Week website.

PASSENGER stakeholders’ workshop

Session 1: Progressing in magnet solutions: REE-free innovations for a circular future

10 December, 10:00 – 14:00, join PASSENGER at the Hotel Marivaux for the session of its workshop organized as a satellite event on “Progressing in magnet solutions: REE-free innovations for a circular future”, followed by a buffet.

• • 10:15 The future of magnet production: Material alternatives (MnAlC, Improved ferrites). IMDEA
  • 10:45: Achieving UE independence with REE free-based magnets. IMDEA
  • 11:15: Coffee break and networking
  • 11:45: Driving electrical mobility with sustainable magnet solutions.
  • 12:15: The future of circular economy in a changing world. Carlo Burkhardt, Pforzheim University
  • 12:45: Walking lunch & matchmaking

Session 2: Driving the future forward: critical raw materials for a more sustainable Europe

10 December, 15:00 – 17:30: PASSENGER is holding a second session of its workshop on “Driving the future forward: critical raw materials for a more sustainable Europe”, featuring contributions from the project partners but also from projects working on related topics, within the Sustainable CRMs4EU

• • 15:00 Exploring collaborations through the Critical Raw Materials Act. Santiago Cuesta-López, ICAMCyL
  • 15:30 Advancing circular economy: The evolution of recycling in CRMs. Andrea Giacomelli, Erion Compliance Organization
  • 16:00 Revival of end-of-life photovoltaic silicon through the design of high-performance Si/C composite anodes for LIBs. Hamid Oubaha, University of Liège
  • 16:30 Leveraging Life Cycle Assessment for Sustainable Innovations in Critical Raw Materials. Vasiliki Alexiou, MNLT Innovations
  • 17:00 How R&I initiatives are working to make EU sustainable and self reliant in the supply of CRMs for the green and digital transition. Stefania Vitale, ESF
  • 17:15: Conclusions and closing remarks

The workshop will take place on Tuesday 10 December 2024 at Hotel Marivaux, with possibility to attend remotely.

See you at Raw Materials Week 2024!

New publication based on PASSENGER’s research, now available open access!

Titled “Structural and magnetic properties of rapidly solidified and Bi-bonded hot compacted Mn_53.3−_xAl₄₅C_1.7Ti_x magnets” and authored by Juan Sebastian Trujillo Hernandez, Fernando Maccari, Jesús Anselmo Tabares, Konstantin Skokov, Germán Antonio Pérez-Alcázar, Oliver Gutfleisch, Semih Ener, the paper has been published in the Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials.

This study examines the impact of Ti doping on the phase formation and #magnetic properties of Mn–Al–C alloys. Using melt spinning, we synthesized Mn53.3−xAl45C1.7Tix alloys (x values ranging from 0 to 1.5) producing high purity ϵ-phase ribbons. The optimal annealing treatment for the formation of ferromagnetic τ-phase is 20 min at 550 °C for all compositions. However, Ti-doped samples showed the formation of β-phase due to partial phase decomposition, and TiC precipitates were present at high Ti concentrations. Upon doping, the Curie temperature was increased from 557K (Ti free sample) to 600K. To improve the coercivity, a combination of ball milling and hot compaction, introducing Bi as a metallic binder, have resulted in increased coercivity from 0.18 T to 0.33 T. Bi addition lead to formation of a grain boundary phase aiding densification. We demonstrate how modifying composition and processing can improve the magnetic properties of Mn–Al based magnets.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmmm.2024.172573

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304885324008643

#Mn–Al–C–Ti alloys; #Magnetic properties; #Melt spinning; #Hot compaction; #Rare-earth-free #Permanent magnets

Citation: J.S. Trujillo Hernández, F. Maccari, J.A. Tabares, K.P. Skokov, G.A. Pérez Alcázar, O. Gutfleisch, S. Ener,
Structural and magnetic properties of rapidly solidified and Bi-bonded hot compacted Mn53.3−xAl45C1.7Tix magnets,
Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, Volume 610, 2024, 172573, ISSN 0304-8853, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmmm.2024.172573.