Magnetic Jewelry Clasp

Rare Earth magnets are extremely strong magnets, which were first produced in the 1970s. The strength and power of these magnets makes them very useful for a wide range of applications. They can be found in some everyday items as well as in products that are more exotic. In this article, we will discuss some of the background of these magnets along with their current applications.

Not So Rare

You might assume from their name that these magnets are made from materials that are scarce or difficult to find. However, this is not so. In fact, many of the most popular Rare Earth materials are to be found in the Earth?s crust in similar quantities to lead and tin. Neither are the materials themselves particularly expensive. Certainly, they are not in the same league as gold or platinum. Their name comes not from the fact that they are scarce, exactly, but because they are distributed somewhat randomly, and are not generally found in large deposits. This makes mining them far more difficult.

Types Of Magnets

Two of the most popular types of rare Earth magnets are neodymium magnets and samarium-cobalt magnets. Of the two, neodymium magnets tend to be stronger for a given size. All of these magnet types can be somewhat impractical, however, as the materials used tend to be very brittle. As a result they tend to crack and break very easily, which is why they are usually coated in a different material for durability.

Applications

Extra-strong magnets are very useful in any situation in which size and weight are a concern. Compared to traditional magnets, neodymium or samarium-cobalt can offer the same strength at smaller sizes. This results in them being used in finely machined technological parts such as computer hard drives. They are also commonly used in musical applications, particular where high-fidelity performance is required. Some loudspeakers are built using neodymium magnets, and some electric guitar pickups use samarium-cobalt. Several kinds of toy have also been produced. These often take the form of construction materials such as bricks or balls, which can be attached to each other using only magnetism. Rare Earth materials are particularly well suited to this task due to the strength-to-weight ratio required in a small but effective toy.

Summary

Despite their name, rare Earth magnets are not actually so rare, and the materials can be found in abundance in the Earth?s crust. They are still somewhat exotic, however, which have only become popular in the last few decades. Compared to regular magnets, their high strength allows them to excel in technological areas like computing, and their performance is so impressive that they are now being used in the latest hybrid and fully electric vehicles. Any time you want a strong magnet in a small space, neodymium or samarium-cobalt magnets are the optimal choice.

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