Innovation in hard magnetic materials is one of the main objectives of research in magnetism due to the wide use of permanent magnets in electrical engineering.

INRIM is working on new characterisation methods to determine the properties of ultra-hard rare-earth-based permanent magnets (NdFeB and SmCo). In particular, it studies the pulsed magnetic field technique and the temperature dependence of magnetic properties. Part of the research activity is focused on the study of new rare-earth-free alloys with hard magnetic properties, such as those based on the intermetallic compound MnBi.

The characterisation laboratory is equipped with various electromagnets, pulsed-field systems and magnetometers. The preparation laboratory has a glove box, an arc furnace and a planetary ball mill.