There are many exciting things science has that people don’t talk about daily. One of them is rare earth elements, which includes 17 rare elements. At the beginning of its discovery, these elements were assumed to be scarce since they are not found in concentrated pockets.
Almost everything we use today contains rare earth magnets. From Batteries to hybrid cars, all contain rare earth magnets. It is a reliable component that is widely used from manufacturing to environmental to the medical industry. It has become common to buy rare earth magnets to use in a wide range of applications.
Statistics in the past years report more than 124,000 tons of rare earth elements and 130 million reserves around the globe, proving the initial assumption wrong.
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What Makes Rare Earth Magnets Important?
This element consists of unique and valuable properties, making it a vital component used in several industrial applications and technology. It is also popularly used in crafts because of its affordability and performance. Rare earth magnets are generally twice to thrice stronger than regular magnets in terms of magnetic strength.
Some of the trait found in rare earth magnets are:
- Heat Resistant – In contrast to standard magnets, rare earth magnets have a higher level of protection against heat. Among rare earth magnets, samarium cobalt magnets are more heat resistant than others. It can hold temperatures over 550 degrees Fahrenheit and not lose its magnetic field.
- Lasts For a Long Time – Magnets will not lose their magnetic strength as time passes. It takes 100 years for a standard magnet to lose 5% of its energy. It makes rare earth magnets more reliable because it’s not vulnerable to this deficiency, unlike standard magnets.
- Budget-Friendly – Rare earth magnets aren’t as rare as opposed to what others believe. With the help of innovations in manufacturing, the industry introduced efficient and faster production cycles. It allowed the cost of rare earth magnets to drop nowadays compared to its high price in the 1990s.
Uses of Rare Earth Magnets in Our Daily Lives
Rare earth magnets have been part of our everyday life for the longest time. Because of its strength, size and reliability, manufacturers rely on this material. They have been hiding underneath some of the most useful things we use, such as phones, computers, TV, cars, or most of our electronic devices. Other areas where rare earth magnets are proven to be useful are:
Medical Field
Some medical equipment is composed of magnets, such as MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) machines. Magnets used for MRIs are more powerful than ordinary magnets. Cancer treatment is another useful way magnets are used in the medical industry.
Electric Industry
The industrial field is where magnets are most beneficial. An electric generator uses mechanical energy from magnets to turn into electricity and to transform electricity back into mechanical energy; magnets are used in motors.
Electronic Devices
Technology turns to magnets as a component of most devices made. Hard drives used to store data that are found in computers use magnets. Magnets are also found in audio speakers, headphones, satellite systems, linear actuators, and many more. Cellphones, laptops, and tablets are also known to use rare earth magnets.
