17 February 2026

Iron nitride magnets: a rare-earth-free alternative to NdFeB

Key insights from this briefing

What are iron nitride magnets and why are they strategically important?

Iron nitride magnets use iron and nitrogen rather than rare earths. Their attraction is the potential for high magnetic performance using abundant inputs, which could provide a non-rare-earth option for motors, electronics and industrial systems where supply security is a priority.

Where could rare-earth-free iron nitride magnets be used?

Developers are targeting EV drivetrains, automotive systems, industrial motors, wind turbines, consumer electronics and defence actuators. Early uses are likely to concentrate where the performance-cost trade-off is acceptable before broader traction-motor adoption.

Excerpt from this briefing's Industry Insight

Iron nitride magnets are being developed as a strategic alternative to rare-earth-dependent permanent magnets. The material uses abundant iron and nitrogen and has the potential for very high saturation magnetisation, while avoiding much of the geopolitical and environmental exposure associated with rare-earth mining and processing. Commercial developers are positioning iron nitride between low-cost ferrites and premium NdFeB magnets, targeting motors, electronics, wind and defence applications. Even modest production volumes could matter strategically if they establish scalable non-Chinese options for high-performance magnets.

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