SCREAM project to establish recycled rare earth source for sintered magnets in UK

March 14, 2022

SCREAM will recover NdFeB magnets from end-of-life components through a variety of techniques, including the HPMS process developed by HyProMag and demonstrated above (Courtesy HyProMag)

The Secure Critical Rare Earth Magnets (SCREAM) project is a £3.4 million UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)-funded project which aims to establish a domestic source of rare earth magnets. As the UK has no sources of primary rare earths, the project will look to establish a steady stream of recycled rare earth magnets to ensure the security of these materials in the UK industry.

Project partners include the University of Birmingham, HyProMag, Bowers & Wilkins, European Metal Recycling, GKN Automotive, Jaguar Land Rover and Mkango Rare Earths UK Ltd.

SCREAM will recover NdFeB magnets from end-of-life components through a variety of techniques, including the Hydrogen Processing of Magnet Scrap process (HPMS). This patented process for extracting and demagnetising NdFeB alloy powders from magnets embedded in scrap was originally developed within the Magnetic Materials Group at the University of Birmingham, UK, and subsequently licenced to HyProMag, also of Birmingham. Researchers from the Birmingham Energy Institute hope to work with SCREAM partners to develop a semi-continuous version of the HPMS process.

Resultant rare earth metals will be processed from the alloys into sintered magnets on a production line at the Tyseley Energy Park in Birmingham. These will then be independently qualified for magnetic, corrosion and mechanical performance, before undergoing testing in a variety of applications including loudspeakers, retaining clips, a magnetic separator and an automotive drive motor.

“As HyProMag moves forward in the manufacturing of recycled magnets, the ability to demonstrate our products in a range of applications with different demands is crucial,” stated Nick Mann, Operations General Manager of HyProMag. “We are delighted to be working with such a talented consortium, to deliver premium products engineered to the highest standards and in doing so forge future relationships. This project will push our magnet making to new levels and prove our ability to offer an alternative to current supply routes.”

Gordon Day, Managing Director, GKN Automotive Innovation Centre, added, “This leading research project which brings together key industry leaders across multiple sectors is vital to ensuring a secure and sustainable supply chain for next-generation electric powertrains. Rare earth magnets are a key component of electric motors and developing a robust solution for recovering and reusing them will help us reduce our environmental impact in the future.”

www.birmingham.ac.uk

www.hypromag.com

www.bowerswilkins.com

www.uk.emrgroup.com

www.gknautomotive.com

www.jaguarlandrover.com

www.mkango.ca

In the latest issue of PM Review…

Download PDF

Extensive Powder Metallurgy industry news coverage, and the following exclusive deep-dive articles and reports:

  • From powder modification to rejuvenation: Fluidised Bed Reactors in metal powder production and Additive Manufacturing
  • Retech: Enabling the atomisation of reactive and refractory alloys at substantially higher levels of productivity and lower cost
  • Sustainability in Powder Metallurgy: Highlights from the 41st Hagen Symposium
  • Innovations from Japan’s Powder Metallurgy industry: award winners highlight novel automotive and healthcare applications

The latest news from the world of metal powders, delivered to your inbox

Don't miss any new issue of PM Review, and get the latest industry news. Sign up to our weekly newsletter.

Sign up

Join our community

Discover our magazine archive…

The free-to-access PM Review magazine archive offers unparalleled insight into the world of Powder Metallurgy from a commercial and technological perspective through:

  • Reports on visits to leading PM part manufacturers, metal powder manufacturers and industry suppliers
  • Articles on technology and application trends
  • Information on materials developments
  • Reviews of key technical presentations from the international conference circuit
  • International industry news

All past issues are available to download as free PDFs or view in your browser.

 

Browse the archive

 

Looking for PM production equipment, metal powders, R&D support and more?

Discover suppliers of these and more in our
advertisers’ index and buyer’s guide, available in the back of PM Review magazine.

  • Powders & materials
  • Powder process, classification & analysis
  • PM products
  • Atomisers & powder production technology
  • Compaction presses, tooling & ancillaries
  • Sintering equipment & ancillaries
  • Post-processing
  • Consulting & toll sintering
View online
Share via
Copy link