Strategic coating of NdFeB magnets with Dy to improve the coercivity of permanent magnets

We present a method, supported by theoretical analysis, for optimizing the usage of the critical rare earth element dysprosium in $Nd_2Fe_{14}B$ (NdFeB)-based permanent magnets. In this method, we use Dy selectively in locations such as magnet edges and faces, where demagnetization factors are largest, rather than uniformly throughout the bulk sample. A200 nm thick Dy film was sputtered onto a commercial N-38, NdFeB magnets with a thickness of 3 mm and post-annealed at temperatures from $600-700^{\circ}C$. Magnets displayed enhanced coercivities after post-annealing and as much as a 5 % increase in the energy product, while requiring a total Dy content of 0.06 wt. % - a small fraction of that used in the commercial grade Dy-NdFeB magnets. By assuming all Dy diffused into NdFeB magnets, the improvement in energy product corresponds to a saving of over 1% Dy (critical element). Magnets manufactured using this technique will therefore be higher performing which would potentially broaden the application space of these magnets in the traction motors of hybrid and pure electric vehicles, and wind generators.