Coordinator: Materials Center Leoben Forschung GmbH
Project Manager: Daniel Scheiber, Materials Center Leoben Forschung GmbH
Responsible Key Researcher(s): Andrea Bachmaier, Erich Schmid Institute of Materials Science; Jürgen Spitaler, Materials Center Leoben Forschung Gmb; Lakshmanan Palaniappan
Company Project Partners: MAGNA Auteca GmbH, Miba Sinter Austria GmbH, Treibacher Industrie AG
Scientific Project Partners: Chair of Physical Metallurgy, Technical University of Leoben, FH OÖ Forschungs & Entwicklungs GmbH, University for Continuing Education Krems - Center for Modeling and Simulation
Objectives:
The fREEmag project, which is part of the COMET-Moduls A3Red, aims to create an integrated computational–experimental workflow for AI-assisted design of sustainable, rare-earth-free (REE-free) magnets with reduced critical raw material (CRM) content. The resulting models and software tools will be incorporated into A3Red’s modular research platform.
The work centers on MnBi-based magnets, targeting an increased fraction of the magnetic α-MnBi phase through (1) optimized high-pressure torsion (HPT) processing and (2) tailored doping and alloying strategies. In parallel, the project will explore additional novel magnetic systems that avoid CRMs.
Short Title
fREEmag
Project Duration
01.01.2026-31.12.2029
