Rare Earth Magnets: Power & Why They're Called Rare Earth

In summary, rare earth magnets are powerful permanent magnets made from alloys of rare earth elements. They have strong magnetic fields due to the atomic structure of these elements and the process of sintering. These magnets are called rare earth magnets because the elements used to make them are classified as rare earth elements. Their main advantages are their high strength and durability, making them ideal for various applications such as in electronics, motors, and medical devices. They are also commonly used in MRI machines, magnetic levitation trains, and industrial and scientific equipment.
  • #1
Tregg Smith
43
0
Can someone explain why a rare Earth magnet is so much more powerful than the lesser magnet? And why is it called rare earth? Thank you
 
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  • #2
I'm not sure the reason why certain compounds have such high coercivities, but they are called 'rare earth' because the elements (Nd, Sm, Pr, etc) are in the Lanthanide series.
 

1. What are rare earth magnets?

Rare earth magnets are powerful permanent magnets made from alloys of rare earth elements, such as neodymium, samarium, and dysprosium. These magnets have exceptionally strong magnetic fields and are used in a variety of applications, from electronics to motors and generators.

2. What makes rare earth magnets so powerful?

Rare earth magnets are powerful because of the atomic structure of the rare earth elements they are made from. These elements have unpaired electrons in their outermost energy level, which allows them to have strong magnetic fields. Additionally, these magnets are made through a process called sintering, which aligns the atoms in a specific orientation to create a strong magnetic field.

3. Why are they called rare earth magnets?

They are called rare earth magnets because the elements used to make them are classified as rare earth elements. These elements are not actually rare in terms of abundance, but they are difficult and expensive to extract and refine, hence the name "rare earth".

4. What are the advantages of using rare earth magnets?

The main advantages of using rare earth magnets are their high strength and durability. They have stronger magnetic fields than other types of magnets, allowing them to be smaller in size but still have the same or greater magnetic force. They also have high resistance to demagnetization, making them ideal for use in applications where strong and consistent magnetic fields are needed.

5. What are some common applications of rare earth magnets?

Rare earth magnets have a wide range of applications, including in computer hard drives, electric motors, speakers, wind turbines, and medical devices. They are also used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, magnetic levitation trains, and in various industrial and scientific equipment.

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