Contrary to popular belief, magnets are an amazing part of American society. These small, attractive, and fun little objects offer fun for all ages. They inspire curiosity and are extremely useful. There are many uses; from simple tasks such as holding grocery lists on the refrigerator to complex work like powering microphones and other electrical items. Anyone that has used a magnet for one purpose or another knows their value.
A rare earth magnet is more desired than any other type of magnet. They are made from mixtures of several natural elements, making them strong and able to offer permanent adhesion. The things that go into making a rare earth magnet include elements that are described as lanthanoids within the periodic table and possess rare earth properties. They possess a minimum field strength of at least three times the amount of Tesla, unlike ceramic and ferrite magnets that possess much smaller fields of strength.
There is more than one type of rare earth magnet, each possessing its own valuable magnetic properties. Because they are susceptible to corrosion over time, they are usually covered to reduce replacement because of breaking and cracking. Samarium-cobalt offers resistance to oxidation and Curie temparatures; yet is still not as strong as Neodymium. The samarium-cobalt is not as widely used because of the high cost associated with its production and the lack of intensity in its magnetic field. They become useful in climates and conditions where temperatures reach immense numbers because they possess the ability to withstand higher Curie temperatures.
In the early 1990s, rare earth magnets reached mainstream. They had previously been ignored and were rarely used because of their expensive production costs and the cost of the necessary patent licenses. Their popularity and usefulness has grown since their introduction. They are now used in a wide variety of applications; such as, speakers, computer hard drives, and self-powered flashlights. Recently, they have been used in the production of automobile motors, ball bearings, windbelts, and many other items. Rare earth magnets are available virtually everywhere. Their commonality has grown, as evidenced in the fact that they can be purchased both in store and online. Many individuals use them in do-it-yourself projects for their homes and businesses.
There are also certain health benefits to using rare earth magnets. They are preferred because they help in reducing the amount of time spent recovering from injuries and swelling to affected areas. The magnetic fields that they produce aid in regulating proper bloodflow, resulting in better health after repeated and regular contact.
Rare earth magnets continue to offer individual something whimsical and interesting to play with. They are beneficial because of their many health benefits, are stronger and better than their regular counterparts, and have become increasingly popular. Their popularity is evidenced in their presence in daily and industrial processes. They offer unmatched usefulness and numerous benefits to all who use them.
The value in rare earth magnets is their magnetic qualities, not the common materials from which hey are made. These magnets were developed in the 1970s and 1980s and have proven to be the strongest type of permanent magnets available. Magnets are rated by four different properties; their value depends upon the strength of the magnetism and how long it lasts. Two kinds of man-made magnets are widely used today because of these special properties. These are Samarium-cobalt and Neodymium.
The four properties used to compare permanent magnets are remanence (the strength of the magnetic field), coercivity (ability to stay magnetized), energy product (density of the magnetic energy) and Curie temperature (temperature at which the magnetism is lost). Although Samarium-cobalt and Neodymium are more expensive, they are the strongest and longest lasting magnets on the market. Samarium-cobalt is the most expensive but retains its magnetic properties to a higher temperature, 720?F. Neodymium begins to lose its magnetic qualities around 310 to 400?F.
The elements called rare earth metals are metals that can be magnetized, like a rare earth magnet. This has to do with the electrons and other components of the crystalline structure.
These minerals are as abundant as lead. Combining these with other metals like cobalt, nickel and iron in a costly and complicated process is necessary to produce these permanent magnets. For example solid pieces of Neodymium and other metals must be ground into a very fine powder, the size a few microns in diameter. This is pressed firmly into a mold and magnetized. This block is very carefully heated in a sintering furnace to about 1000?C that allows the Neodymium to melt.
These magnets have some built-in problems. The magnets are extremely brittle and will corrode easily. Chipping, cracking and fracturing are common problems requiring careful handling. The corrosion issue was addressed by coating the magnets with different metals and even an epoxy resin. The specific use determines what covering is used; zinc, nickel, tin and gold are common choices. Even more of a problem is their strength. People can become injured if they are trapped between two magnets only a few centimeters in size. These injuries can be pinched skin or even broken bones. If the magnets are allowed to get too close to each other they smash together with enough force to break the brittle material and send flying pieces everywhere.
These wonderful rare earth magnets provide a long-lasting, powerful magnetic field and are used in many industries to make life easier for people. The name rare earth magnet comes from the unique properties the minerals have of allowing themselves to be magnetized.
