Effect of Mg Ratio on the Extraction of Dy from (Nd,Dy)-Fe-B Permanent Magnet Using Liquid Mg

Recently, since the demand of rare earth permanent magnet for high temperature applications such as an electric motor has increased, dysprosium (Dy), a heavy rare earth element, is becoming important due to severe bias in its production.To fulfill the increasing need of Dy, recycling offers as a promising alternative.In recycling of rare earths, Hydro-metallurgical extraction method is mainly used however it has adverse environmental effects.Liquid metal extraction on the other hand, is an eco-friendly and simple method as far as the reduction of rare earth metal oxide is concerned.Therefore, liquid metal extraction was studied in this research as an alternative to the hydro-metallurgical recycling method.Magnesium (Mg) is selected as solvent metal because it doesn't form intermetallic compounds with Fe, B and has a low melting and low boiling point.Extraction behavior of Dy in (Nd,Dy)-Fe-B magnet is observed and effect of Mg ratio on extraction of Dy is confirmed.