ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | MARCH 2026 7 their formation for more long-lasting vehicle components,” says Nishimoto. The method can be applied beyond die-cast alloys to reveal pitting corrosion mechanisms in other Al alloys as well. www.tohoku.ac.jp. NEW MAGNETS NEED NO RARE EARTHS Researchers at Georgetown University discovered a new class of strong magnets that do not rely on rare-earth or precious metals. They say the breakthrough could advance clean energy technologies such as motors, robotics, data storage, and more. To date, the strongest anisotropy materials for permanent magnets depend heavily on rare-earth elements. For thin film applications, certain alloys of iron and platinum have become the materials of choice for next-generation magnetic recording media. Finding high-performance alternatives based on earth-abundant elements remains an ongoing challenge. The team recently discovered a novel type of strong magnet based on high-entropy borides using a combination of 3D transition metals and boron. The materials do not require any rare-earths or precious metals. Most studies of high-entropy alloys focus on chemically disordered cubic structures, which are not well suited for strong magnetic anisotropy that prefers lower crystal symmetry. The researchers over- came this limitation by focusing on high-entropy borides, where boron promotes chemical ordering and lower-symmetry crystal structures. They targeted a crystal structure with tetragonal symmetry called C16 phase. This structure is known in boron-based materials made of two or three elements but is largely unexplored in more complex materials. The team synthesized the high-entropy borides using a combinatorial sputtering method where atoms of the multiple target materials thoroughly mix by the time they are collected on a heated substrate. This approach also allowed rapid explorations of many material compositions. On a single substrate, about 50 samples can be made simultaneously under identical conditions but with varying compositions. georgetown.edu. From left: Assistant professor of physics Gen Yin, Ph.D. student Willie Beeson, and Kai Liu, professor and McDevitt Chair in Physics, at Beeson’s thesis defense. Courtesy of Georgetown University. Are you maximizing your ASM membership? Expand your knowledge and apply your ASM International member-only discounts to a variety of professional development resources: • Reference Materials • ASM Handbooks Online • Technical Journals • Continuing Education Courses Learn more about your membership benefits by visiting: asminternational.org/membership
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