Technology page · data to 2026-10-15
Iron nitride (Fe16N2) magnet patents
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Iron nitride, mainly the α″-Fe16N2 phase, is a candidate permanent magnet made from iron and nitrogen only. Filings cover synthesis of the phase, nanoparticle and thin-film routes, consolidation into bulk magnets, and motors designed around them.
In our base
- 29 patent families (76 publications) published from 2021-10-07 to 2026-10-15.
- 5 new families in the last twelve months, against 6 in the twelve months before.
New families by year of first publication
* 2021 counts publications from 09-27, when our base starts.
* 2026 counts publications up to 10-15 only; new publications reach our sources weeks late, Chinese ones three weeks or more.
| Year | Families |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 (to 10-15) | 4 |
Offices
A family counts once in each office where a member has published.
| Office | Families |
|---|---|
| US | 18 |
| CN | 12 |
| JP | 4 |
| WO | 4 |
| EP | 3 |
| RO | 1 |
Applicants with two or more families
Harmonised names from the source record; subsidiaries are not merged.
| Applicant | Families |
|---|---|
| Univ Minnesota | 11 |
| Niron Magnetics Inc | 6 |
| Niron Magnetics Inc [US] | 4 |
| Univ Central South | 3 |
| UT Battelle LLC | 2 |
Most recent publications
The newest publication in each of the 8 most recently active families, as recorded. Families our analysts have reviewed carry a note.
Coating for iron-based magnets and associated methods
WO-2026183018-A1 · published 2026-09-03 · Niron Magnetics Inc · offices: WO
Niron Magnetics, the US iron nitride developer, applies for coatings that stop iron-based magnets degrading. The composite is agglomerated iron-based nanoparticles with pores between them, partly coated outside. Oxidation of fine iron powders is a known barrier for iron nitride, so this is about durability, not strength.
Method and device for preparing polycrystalline iron nitride in batches
CN-122543161-A · published 2026-08-11 · Hefei Tuojia Semiconductor Tech Co Ltd · offices: CN
CN-122543161-A claims a batch method and production line for iron nitride (Fe16N2): iron is melted, crushed, sorted by settling, nitrided and quenched. Volume production is the main hurdle for iron nitride, so a working line matters more than a new composition. Niron Magnetics and the University of Minnesota lead this field in our data; this record names no applicant. Machine-translated abstract.
Iron nitride magnetic material including coated nanoparticles
US-20260229392-A1 · published 2026-08-06 · Univ Minnesota [US]; UT Battelle LLC [US]; Univ Tennessee Res Found [US] · offices: US
The applicants describe Fe16N2 nanoparticles with carbon and/or boron mixed in or coated on. Annealing yields Fe16N2, Fe16(NB)2, Fe16(NC)2 or Fe16(NCB)2 phase domains. This is a continuation in a family that already holds US grants US-11195644-B2 (2021-12-07) and US-12620511-B2 (2026-05-05). From the March 2015 US filing in our record, the US term runs to about March 2035, before any term adjustment. Niron dates its iron nitride work to Minnesota research (nironmagnetics.com/about).
Permanent magnet motors with flux fountain outrunner
US-20260196894-A1 · published 2026-07-09 · Niron Magnetics Inc [US] · offices: US
Iron nitride compositions
US-12624428-B2 · published 2026-05-12 · Univ Minnesota · offices: US
Magnetic circuit with multiple magnet types
JP-2026071266-A · published 2026-04-28 · Niron Magnetics Inc · offices: EP, JP, US
Preparation method for micron-sized high-purity α"-Fe16N2 magnetic powder
WO-2026081264-A1 · published 2026-04-23 · Univ Central South · offices: CN, WO
Method of synthesis of elongated Fe-N powders with controllable content of alpha”-Fe16N2 phase by gas atomization
RO-139443-A2 · published 2026-03-30 · Institutul Nat De Cercetare Dezvoltare Pentru Fizica Tehnica Ift Iasi [RO] · offices: RO
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Other technologies
Mn–Bi · Mn–Al–C · Advanced ferrites · L10 FeNi / tetrataenite · RE-free motor topologies · August 2026 landscape
Publications come from the EPO Open Patent Services and Google Patents Public Data, matched against a published CPC and keyword scope and grouped by DOCDB patent family. New publications reach our sources several weeks after they are published (Chinese ones three weeks or more), so the latest weeks are incomplete.