The University of Duisburg-Essen, the Technical University of Darmstadt and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf are jointly researching new magnetic materials. In the “PUMA” project, the scientists are aiming to develop highly efficient magnets based on materials which are able to cool efficiently or generate heat and electricity without the use of rare-earth elements.
Eco-friendly alternative to gas compression cooling
On the one hand, the project focuses on the research of permanent magnets that have maximum efficiency and are used in electric motors or wind power generators. Secondly, research is being conducted into new materials that make use of the magnetocaloric effect – the property of certain metals and alloys to change their temperature when exposed to a magnetic field. This phenomenon could be used as a eco-friendly alternative to conventional gas compression cooling in solid-state cooling.
Partners conduct research in France
For their investigations, the project partners are using the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble. There, a new pulsed high-field system is being set up, with which magnetic fields of more than 50 Tesla can be generated. This corresponds to a million times the Earth’s magnetic field and will make it possible to precisely analyze the interactions that are crucial for the function of magnetocaloric materials.
