Highlights

• Korean researchers engineered lanthanum and gadolinium magnetocaloric materials into scalable sheets and wires, marking a technical milestone toward commercial magnetic refrigeration systems.
• Despite non-rare-earth alternatives in development, commercial magnetocaloric cooling remains dependent on gadolinium and lanthanum, with demand expected to rise as HFC refrigerants face phaseout under the Kigali Amendment.
• Magnetic cooling systems require strong NdFeB permanent magnets regardless of refrigerant material used, reinforcing rare earth dependencies and creating new demand drivers in the critical minerals sector.

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A research team at the Korea Institute of Materials Science (opens in a new tab) (KIMS) has announced a full-cycle magnetic cooling system—materials, components, and modules—marking a technical milestone that pushes solid-state refrigeration closer to commercial reality. Led by Dr. Jong-Woo Kim and Dr. Da-Seul Shin, the team engineered lanthanum-based and manganese-based magnetocaloric materials into thin sheets, fine wires, and optimized modules—components required for scalable magnetic refrigeration.

Published in Rare Metals (IF 11.0), this work signals that Korea intends to compete in the next generation of cooling technologies, especially as tightening global regulations phase out gas-based refrigerants.

Where Physics Meets Policy: The Real Stakes Behind Solid-State Cooling

Magnetic cooling relies on the magnetocaloric effect—a temperature change induced by exposing a solid refrigerant to a magnetic field. The idea is not new, but the commercial barriers have been formidable: high materials cost, dependence on rare earths like gadolinium, and difficulty mass-producing large-area plates or precision wires.

KIMS claims progress on all three fronts. Their team fabricated 0.5 mm large-area lanthanum-based sheets and 1.0 mm gadolinium-based fine wires—credible performance numbers that align with world-class component research. They also improved non-rare-earth manganese alloys by reducing thermal hysteresis, a chronic performance drag in magnetocaloric materials.

Nothing here contradicts known science. However, one should note the institute’s subtle promotional tone—positioning Korea as achieving “world-class” results without independent benchmarking. The achievement is real; the competitive superlative is less certain.

Reading Between the Lines: Rare Earth Demand Isn’t Going Away

Despite the focus on eco-friendly alternatives, the technology remains anchored in rare earths—lanthanum and gadolinium, chief among them. Investors should not mistake “non-rare-earth” research for imminent rare-earth-free refrigeration.

KIMS’ manganese alloys are promising, but their performance still trails REE-based systems. If magnetic cooling gains commercial traction, demand for gadolinium, lanthanum, and heavy rare earth additives could rise sharply—particularly as Kigali Amendment timelines squeeze gas refrigerants out of the market.

The Kigali Amendment establishes a phasedown schedule for hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), requiring developed countries to begin reduction in 2019 and reach an 85% phase-down by 2036, while developing countries begin reduction in 2024 and complete an 80-85% reduction by 2045-2047. The timeline for each country's phase-down depends on its economic status, with some developing nations starting later in 2028. 

The broader trend is undeniable: solid-state refrigeration is moving from lab curiosity to strategic industrial target. Germany is already demonstrating high-COP magnetic systems; Korea is racing to lock up IP; and global OEMs are preparing for a world where refrigerant compliance drives technology shifts.

The Investor Angle: Cooling Tech Could Become a New Magnet Metals Frontier

Magnetocaloric systems require strong magnetic fields generated by permanent magnets—and that loops us squarely back to NdFeB. Even if the refrigerant material changes, the magnets won’t. Any path to commercialization reinforces existing rare earth dependencies rather than eliminating them.

Citation

Source: National Research Council of Science and Technology (KIMS) / Newswise, Dec. 3, 2025.

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