Sunday, July 17, 2011

Rare Earth Magnets

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.