Abstract
Rare earth (RE) - transition metal based high energy density magnets are of immense significance in various engineering applications. $Nd_2Fe_{14}B$ magnets possess the highest energy product and are widely used in whole industries. Simultaneously, composite alloys that are cheap, cost effective and strong commercially available have drawn great attention, because rare-earth metals are costly, less abundant and strategic shortage. We designed rare-earth free alloys and fabrication process and developed novel route to prepare $Nd_2Fe_{14}B$ powders by wet process employing spray drying and reduction-diffusion (R-D) without the use of high purity metals as raw material. MnAl-base permanent magnetic powders are potentially important material for rare-earth free magnets. We have prepared the nano-sized MnAl powders by plasma arc discharge and micron-sized MnAl powders by gas atomization. They showed good magnetic property, compared with that from conventional processes. $Nd_2Fe_{14}B$ powders with high coercivity of more than 10 kOe were successfully synthesized by adjusting R-D step, followed by precise washing system. It is considered that this process can be applied for the recycling of RE-elements extracted from ewaste including motors.