This $527,669 federal Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Mathematical and Physical Sciences (CFDA 47.049) program supports research at the University of Utah to enable L10 ordering in bulk FeNi alloys. The project aims to develop low-cost permanent magnets as an alternative to neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets, which are in high demand but rely on imports of rare earth elements. The research focuses on enhancing the diffusion kinetics in FeNi alloys to achieve the desired L10 ordered crystal structure, which provides powerful magnetic properties comparable to NdFeB magnets. Key technical approaches include introducing crystal defects and alloying additions to accelerate the atomic ordering process. This 3-year project, starting May 1, 2024, will also train graduate and undergraduate students, enhance related course content, and support outreach to high school and underrepresented student groups. The findings may elucidate the mechanism behind the formation of the L10 ordered FeNi phase observed in meteorites, with the potential to reduce reliance on rare earth imports for critical technologies.
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