The name of rare earth elements is kind of misleading for these 17 elements on the periodic table. In the makeup of the Earth's crust they are actually pretty abundant. The reason that they are considered as rare elements is because they are not found in very concentrated volumes. Any object that generates a magnetic field is considered as a magnet. A magnet that generates its own consistent and uninterrupted magnetic field is called a permanent magnet. Rare Earth magnets are one type of permanent magnets and are made from rare earth element alloys. Rare Earth magnets are the strongest type of permanent magnets and exhibit 1.4 teslas or more. There are actually two types of rare earth magnets called samarium-cobalt and neodymium.
The strongest type of permanent magnet, the neodymium magnet, is composed of iron, boron, and neodymium alloy. Since there has been a continuous price decrease over the years they are also the most affordable type of magnet. Some of the uses of these types of magnets would be in audio speakers, headphones, self-powered torches, computer hard drives, cordless tool motors, electric guitar pickups, roller coasters, building toys for children and many other types of things. Neodymium Rare Earth Magnet.
Neodymium rare earth magnets are actually very easy to break and are very weak when it comes to oxidation. Since they are so easily oxidized they are normally coated with either nickel,tin plating, gold, zinc, and epoxy resin. You can find these types of magnet in many different sizes and shapes for many different uses. Neodymium Rare Earth Magnet.
Since these types of magnets are so strong there are some dangers in using them. Some larger neodymium magnets can hurt you if part of your body was in between a magnet and something it is attracted to or between two magnets. Also, if you had two of these magnets they can come together with amazing speed, enough to send fragments flying around or to break bones. Neodymium magnets can also be used to erase the hard drives off of computers of to mess up credit cards. Most people do not think of magnets being dangerous at all but these types of magnets can be very dangerous and should be handled with a lot of care.
Even though they are called rare earth magnets neodymium magnets are commonly used everyday. These types of magnets are not hard to get and are very strong. Whatever need you have for a magnet you are sure to find that some type of neodymium magnet will do whatever you need it to.
