FAQ
Got questions? We’ve compiled a list of commonly asked questions that we think will be helpful. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if your question isn’t covered below.
What makes Noveon's magnets superior to traditional magnets?
Our magnets not only display superior performance at higher temperatures, but we can also make them with less heavy rare earth elements and from a flexible feedstock. That means we can make magnets from both virgin or 100% recycled materials.
Are Noveon’s magnets 100% recycled?
Our patented M2M® magnet-to-magnet technology enables us to manufacture magnets from 100% recycled materials. That said, we have the capability to produce magnets from virgin or recycled material.
How does a magnet affect a motor’s performance?
In an electric motor, magnets are used to convert electrical energy input into mechanical energy output. Rare earth permanent magnets are the most efficient in these applications.
How can a recycled magnet outperform the original source material?
With our Grain Boundary Engineering (GBE®) technology, we can actually improve the composition and microstructure of our magnets to create a superior product. Our recycled magnets have been proven to display higher performance in every measurable metric.
What does Nd-Fe-B mean?
Nd-Fe-B is the abbreviation for periodic elements neodymium, iron and boron. Together, these elements comprise neodymium magnets, aka rare earth magnets. And they’re the strongest type of magnet commercially available.
What does thermal stability mean, and why is it so important?
Thermal stability is a parameter used to measure a magnet’s performance at elevated temperatures. After a magnet is exposed to elevated temperatures, its performance is permanently reduced once it cools down. Our EcoFlux magnets exhibit the highest thermal stability of any commercially produced magnet.
What is Grain Boundary Engineering (GBE®)?
Grain Boundary Engineering is our patented technology that enables us to actually manipulate and improve the microstructure of our magnets using alternative resources. The end result is a magnet that displays the highest thermal stability of any permanent rare earth magnet.
Why is the work that Noveon does so critical?
Our magnets are being used to power applications that enable a cleaner, safer and quieter future. Our process is better for the environment, significantly reducing the harmful byproducts traditional mining techniques produce. We’ve created our own supply chain that is free from the geopolitical strife and subsequent price and availability fluctuations that hamper our industry. And we’re aiding national security interests by providing a steady stream of high-performance products that power a multitude of military applications.
How can Noveon produce such high-performing magnets with so little waste of pollution?
Our patented technology allows us to create high-performance magnets with alternative resources, bypassing many of the traditional manufacturing steps that lead to hazardous byproducts, including mining, beneficiation, leaching and solvent extraction.
How is Noveon addressing supply chain issues?
We source our magnetic materials from an entirely domestic feedstock, meaning we aren’t reliant on the global supply chain — one that’s subject to price and supply volatility.
How much end-of-life magnetic material exists to be recycled?
There are an estimated 600,000 tons of end-of-life magnetic materials sitting in the urban mine. This supply is self-replenishing, giving us a closed-loop supply chain.
Has the technology been tested and proven to work at scale?
Our patented technology has been peer-reviewed by industry and academia experts. We are already producing at scale for our clients and have identified strategic partnerships to facilitate exponential growth in the near future.
Why are U.S.-sourced rare earth magnets critical to our national security?
Rare earth magnet-powered applications are instrumental to the development of high-tech, high-performance military and defense systems. That means having an abundant and available supply chain is equally critical to our national security.
How is Noveon committed to the health and safety of its people and the environment?
We’ve implemented a number of health and safety protocols to ensure anyone who sets foot in our facility — from employees to investors — is protected. As a company committed to enabling a high-tech and sustainable future, everything we do operationally is in lockstep with guiding environmental safety principles.