Joint publication in Nature Communications with Max-Planck-Research Group de magnete

L. Han, F. Maccari, I. Soldatov, N. Peter, I.R. Souza Filho, R. Schäfer, O. Gutfleisch, D. Raabe, Z. Li
Nature Communications 14, 8176 (2023).
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43953-1

Fast growth of sustainable energy production requires massive electrification of transport, industry and households, with electrical motors and therein soft magnets as key components. High saturation magnetization, mechanical strength, and thermal stability have to be reconciled, which are commonly conflicting properties. Our high entropy alloy concept combines thermal stability, soft magnetic response, and high mechanical strength. The strong and ductile soft ferromagnet is realized in a multicomponent alloy with precipitates forming a Widmanstätten pattern. The material shows excellent magnetic and mechanical properties at high temperatures while the reference alloy with identical composition devoid of precipitates significantly loses its magnetization and strength at identical temperatures. Our work provides a new avenue to develop soft magnets for high-temperature applications, enabling efficient use of sustainable electrical energy under harsh operating conditions.