Research Projects
Research Directions
The Magnetic Materials and Nanomaterials group focuses on the development, processing, and characterization of advanced magnetic and nanostructured materials. The main research directions include:
Nanocrystalline and nanocomposite magnetic powders produced by mechanical alloying and reactive milling
Soft and hard magnetic materials (bonded and sintered)
Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) and cold sintering techniques
Composite magnetic cores based on ferromagnetic fibers
Characterization of materials using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and DTA
Exchange coupling phenomena in soft/hard nanocomposites
Representative Research Projects
Ongoing / Recent Projects
1. Multiferroic functional materials for energy conversion obtained by nonconventional methods
Project Code: 21PCE / 2025
2. Balance between magnetic and electrical properties in soft magnetic composite powders and sintered compacts
Project Code: PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2020-2264 / PCE128 / 2021
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3. Cold sintered soft magnetic composites based on amorphous ferromagnetic fibres
Project Code: PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2020-0175 / PCE 32 / 2021
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4. Alloy/oxide composite magnetic cores for energy-efficient electromagnetic devices
Project Code: PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2019-3763
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Completed Projects
5. Fibers-based soft magnetic composites prepared by cold pressing and spark plasma sintering
Project Code: PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2016-0649 (2018–2020)
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6. MagCore-MHF – High magnetic flux density sintered magnetic cores from pseudo core-shell powders
Project Code: PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2016-1816 (2017–2018)
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7. Soft magnetic cores via powder metallurgy. Technology development and implementation
Project Code: PN-III-P2-2.1-BG-2016-0365 (2016–2018)
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8. New technology for iron reduction in quartz sands using magnetic separation
Project Code: PN-III-P2-2.1-BG-2016-0214 (2016–2018)
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9. Synthesis of SPS nanocomposite compacts of Permalloy/Fe-Si using mechanically alloyed powders
Project Type: Bilateral Cooperation Project: France–Romania (2013–2014)
10. Soft magnetic nanocrystalline/nanostructured powders and compacts via mechanosynthesis and SPS
Project Code: PNII-ID-PCE (2012)
11. Amorphous Fe-based and Co-based powders and cores via mechanical alloying and SPS
Project Code: PNII-RU-TE (2012)
12. Ferrite/transition metal nanocomposites (MeFe₂O₄ / Fe, Ni, Fe-Ni-X) obtained by mechanical alloying
Project Code: PNII-ID-PCE – ID (2008)
Technologies & Methods
The research group actively uses and develops advanced technologies for the preparation and analysis of magnetic materials:
Mechanical alloying / milling (dry, wet, and reactive)
Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) – including home-built equipment
Cold sintering for soft magnetic composites
Characterization techniques:
XRD for structural analysis
SEM & EDX for morphology and composition
DSC, DTA, TG for thermal behavior
Magnetic hysteresis measurement in DC and AC up to 10 kHz
Patents & Innovations
The group has filed several patents and patent applications for novel materials and synthesis processes:
1. Process for preparing IrAl and IrAl₃ intermetallic compound powders
Patent: RO123425-B1 | Inventors: P. Cârlan, I. Chicinaș
2. Process to obtain nanostructured permalloy (supermalloy) Rhometal-type powders
Patents: RO130354-A0, RO130354-B1
Inventors: I. Chicinaș, T.F. Marinca, F. Popa, B.V. Neamțu
3. Fe or Fe-alloy/ferrite composite powders with pseudo core-shell structure and preparation method
Patent pending: OSIM A10083/18.12.2015
Inventors: I. Chicinaș, T.F. Marinca, F. Popa, B.V. Neamțu
4. Magnetic composite cores based on ferromagnetic fibers and production method
Patent pending: OSIM 137538-A0 (2023)
Inventors: B.V. Neamțu, T.F. Marinca, I. Chicinaș
5. Composite powders based on Fe/Fe-alloy with oxide matrix – process and compact product
Patent pending: OSIM RO137133A0
Inventors: T.F. Marinca, B.V. Neamțu, F. Popa, I. Chicinaș