Reduced order model for hard magnetic films

Abstract

In the pursuit of rare earth-lean permanent magnets for green technologies, microstructural optimisation offers a promising strategy to enhance coercivity while minimising critical element content. For this approach, the combination of experimental work on hard magnetic films and numerical investigations is necessary. However, computational limitations restrict micromagnetics to small systems, motivating the development of a reduced order model for investigating large multigrain systems. The model is based on the embedded Stoner-Wohlfarth method and is used to investigate the influence of a nonmagnetic grain boundary phase thickness and the aspect ratio of the magnetic grains on the overall coercivity. It is possible to simulate large NdFeB multigrain structures which can be compared to hard magnetic films. We derive design recommendations to increase coercivity by increasing the grain boundary phase thickness and the aspect ratio of the grains in hard magnetic materials.