subject: Neodymium Rare Earth Magnets [print this page] Rare Earth elements are a bit of a misleading name for these seventeen elements found on the periodic table. They are actually relatively abundant in the makeup of the Earths crust. They are only referred to as rare because they are typically not found in very concentrated volumes. A magnet is any object that generates a magnetic field. A permanent magnet is a magnetized object that generates its own consistent and uninterrupted magnetic field. Rare Earth magnets are a type of permanent magnet. They are made from alloys of the rare Earth elements. They are very strong, the strongest type of permanent magnet in fact, exhibiting 1.4 teslas or more. There are two types of rare Earth magnets, namely samarium-cobalt and neodymium rare Earth magnets.
Neodymium rare Earth magnets are composed of a boron, iron, and neodymium alloy to form the strongest currently known type of permanent magnet. They are also the most affordable type due to a continuous decrease in price over the years since their first construction and are often used in the production of many modern technologies. Examples include computer hard drives, audio speakers and headphones, cordless tool motors, self-powered torches, roller coasters, electric guitar pickups, building toys for children, and many other things.
Neodymium rare Earth magnets are extremely easily breakable and are very susceptible to corrosion by oxidation. For this reason, they are usually plated or coated with something to act as a protective treatment against this process. Gold, nickel, tin plating, epoxy resin, and zinc are frequently used to coat the surface of neodymium magnets to make them more resistant to corrosion. There are many manufacturers of these magnets and they can be found in various shapes and sizes for all kinds of uses.
Because the force of these magnets tends to be so strong, there are some dangers involved with their use. Larger neodymium magnets can be strong enough to cause bodily injury if a body part becomes lodged between two magnets or between a magnet and a surface that a magnet can attract, like metal. Two magnets of this type can attract each other with enough speed and power to break bone or to cause the magnets to break sending shards flying. They have also been known to clear data from hard drives and credit cards that use magnetic technology and can cause significant damage to monitors. People seldom think of magnets as being dangerous, but neodymium rare Earth magnets superior strength to other magnets should be respected and handled with care.
Neodymium rare Earth magnets are commonly used and are not difficult to come by. They are incredibly strong and surprisingly inexpensive. Neodymium magnets can be found to suit any magnetizing need.
