Why Samarium Cobalt Magnets Is More Effective Amongst REE?

At the present time, it has been proved that there are indeed plentiful of these elements, just not often found in concentrations able to be mined economically. Last year alone 124,000 tons of REEs were mined, with another 130 million in reserve worldwide. There are 17 rare earth elements, including the 15 elements in lanthanide series and two other elements i.e. Yttrium and Scandium. These are found with the lanthanides in nature. The least abundant of the REE, thulium is found with 200 times which has more abundancy than gold.

Rare Earth Magnets are strong permanent magnets which are not exactly rare to find but it takes a lot of processing to be manufactured. These are the strongest types of permanent magnets producing significantly stronger magnetic fields. Samarium Cobalt being one of the two Rare Earth Magnets is also known as SmCo5. This magnet can withstand higher temperatures than a Neodymium magnet, the other type of rare magnet.

There Are Two Types Of Rare Earth Magnets:

1. Neodymium magnets: these small, metallic magnets are made from neodymium, iron, boron, and other transitional metals and come in disks, rings, and blocks. Neodymium magnets are sensitive to temperature and corrosion, which is why they are generally coated.
2. Samarium cobalt magnets: these small but strong magnets, made from samarium, cobalt, and iron also come in simple shapes like blocks, disks, and rings. They do not corrode and also do not require any coating.

We all must have hard about rare earth magnet but do you know what are they used for? Neodymium and samarium magnets can be used for anything starting from commercial to industrial purposes. There are a variety of useful applications like:

• Audio speakers
• Bicycle dynamos
• Computer disc drives
• Linear actuators
• Mechanically powered flashlights
• Motors
• Electrodynamic bearings
• Geocatching
• Industrial equipment protection
• Jewelry closures
• Permanent magnet motors in cordless tools
• Satellite systems
• Sensors
• Mounting tools
• MRI machines
• Oil filters
• Traveling wave tubes
• Toys
• Welding clamps

Ideal for very high temperature applications, Samarium Cobalt maintain their magnetic strength at higher temperatures. The magnetic fields produced from Samarium Cobalt magnets ranges from 0.8 to 1.15 Tesla. SmCo magnets are highly durable as it displays excellent corrosion resistance and temperature stability that it can operate in conditions up to 500C without suffering any magnetization loss.

The manufacturing of neodymium magnets began in 1983. Neodymium has a bright, silvery metallic luster as these are made of an alloy of iron, boron and neodymium, a rare earth element. These magnets are brittle and are often plated with a protective coating of metals such as nickel to help protect from breaking and chipping. Being one of the reactive rare earth metals, it quickly oxidizes in air. It is highly corrosive and come in many sizes, shapes and colors.

Samarium Cobalt magnets manufacturers regularly assembled these into products using epoxies where the surface is properly prepared. These are sintered more expensive than Neodymium Iron Boron.

Miki Barzig is an author/writer, a Marine Corps veteran and a perpetual student of art, journaling and life. She has written for several national and trade publications and continues to build her library with her own publications.