PREDICTIONS MADE BY LEADING AUTHORITIES FULFILLED BY NCM
Frustrated by the lack of progress in improving the performance of NdFeB magnets for nearly 30 years, US DOE, National Science Foundation and ARPA - ENERGY jointly funded a study by four leading authorities in magnetics in America to make recommendations for further research. The conclusion of the study, Prospects for Nanoparticle-based Permanent Magnets, published in 2012 is quoted below.
"Magnetic particles smaller than 15 nm with high magnetocrystalline anisotropies can be used as building blocks for next generation permanent magnets."
Prospects for Nanoparticle-based Permanent Magnets, Scripta Materials: 67:6 (2012), B. Balamurugan, D.J. Sellmeyer, G.C. Hadjipanayis and R. Skomski
Leading theorists in the field of Permanent Magnets identified a solution to the problem which stumped scientists for over three decades.
"Given {various] challenges, it’s no surprise that past attempts have failed to create a good nano-composite magnet. That’s why researchers have been thinking seriously about producing such a magnet from the bottom up -- that is, by first synthesizing nanometer sized magnetic particles and then assembling them."
George Hadjipanayais and Alexander Gabay, "Magnet Makeover", IEEE Spectrum, August, 2011, (37-41).