围绕Nd-Fe-B磁材的专利势态分析

Analysis on Patent Situation of NdFeB

涉及烧结和粘结 Nd- Fe- B磁体基本成分和工艺的专利分别属于日本住友特殊金属公司与美国的 MQI公司 ,随着基本专利失效期的逐渐接近 ,磁体产业界对此事的关心日增 ,旨在了解与这种极为重要的商品材料密切相关的专利的真实情况。最近陆续出现了一些涉及 Nd- Fe- B磁体专利势态的文章。但多数文章未把问题说透。为此特对 Nd- Fe- B所涉及专利的来龙去脉作一个较全面的阐述 ,以正视听。

The major composition and process patents concerning both sintered and bonded NdFeB permanent magnets were issued to Sumitomo Special Metals (SSMC) and Magnequench(MQ). As the expiration date of these patents nears,there is increasing interest to the permanent magnet community to know the exact situation with respect to these commercially important materials. Recently, several articles have been published which explains the patent situation from the perspective of one of the patent holders. However,some of the information in these articles is vague or misleading. This paper attempts to provide a more balance and comprehensive review of the NdFeB patent situation.