Liquid metal extraction of Nd from NdFeB magnet scrap

This research involves using molten magnesium (Mg) to remove neodymium (Nd) from NdFeB magnet scrap by diffusion. Mg was melted over pieces of NdFeB s crap and held at temperatures in the range 675-705 degreesC for 2-8 h. The Mg was allowed to solidify, and the castings were then sectioned and charac terized using scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and chemical analysis. Nd was found to have diffused out of the solid scrap into the mo lten Mg. The thickness of the diffusion layer was measured, the diffusion o f Nd through the NdFeB scrap into liquid Mg was described, and the diffusio n coefficient of Nd in liquid Mg was estimated.