The World of Neodymium Magnets - Science Versus Fun
The name Neodymium originates from the Greek words 'neos' meaning new and 'didymos' meaning twin. It was discovered by Baron Carl Auer von Welsbach in Vienna, Austria in 1885; however it took another 40 years to isolate it in its relatively pure form in 1925. He separated neodymium, as well as the element praseodymium, from a material known as didymium by means of fractional crystallization. Sounds complicated? It is, so I won't go into it here, but suffice to say as scientific understanding evolved so the purity of the finished product improved and can now be produced to a purity of
One of the most appealing characteristics of neodymium magnets is their relatively low cost however, the bulk of current production is from China, and concerns have been raised recently in consuming countries because the Chinese government has recently imposed 'strategic materials controls' on the element. That's enough politics!
It is an incredibly useful element and is a key component of an alloy used in the production of lightweight magnets for electric motors of hybrid cars, in generators for wind turbines, loudspeakers as well as being a popular additive in glass, giving it a characteristic reddish-purple colour, especially useful in lasers emitting infrared light. You might also find these small but powerful magnets in your cell phone or your computer's hard drive and is also one of a number of metals in an alloy commonly used in cigarette lighter flints. There is also much information out there regarding its benefits or otherwise, in pain relief of conditions such as arthritis, back/spine pain, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, sinus and stress headaches, asthma, muscle spasms, toothaches, strains and swelling, joint pain and fractures. So you can see that somewhere along the way you have probably owned or used a piece of this 'rare earth element', (though it's actually not rare at all, in fact its abundance in the Earth's crust is about 38mg/kg and Neodymium reserves are estimated at 8 million tonnes!).
Neodymium magnets are made from a combination of Neodymium, Iron and Boron and are extremely powerful, this increased strength has inspired some new applications such as magnetic jewellery clasps and magnetic building sets for children and herein lies the fun aspect.
One such inspiration is the Wiki M-Cube it's a puzzle like you have never seen before! It consists of 216 highly magnetic Neodymium rare earth magnets with a durable nickel plated surface, far more powerful than your average fridge magnets. Each one has a north and south polarity, allowing you to make a myriad of different shapes and patterns in both 2D and 3D. There is no one solution, but it is a puzzle if you choose to set yourself challenging targets. Even returning the cube to its original shape once dismantled is harder than it sounds. It can be shaped into funky jewellery or sculpted into inspiring shapes and when you get bored with your creation you just have to start again. It will entertain you for hours and can help to relieve stress, develop the creative side of your brain and relieve boredom. It makes the perfect executive toy and would look stylish on any office desk. Your kids will also love it and you'll be prising it out of their nimble fingers at every opportunity (though not for children under 36 months due to small parts). However, take heed, once you start, you cannot put it down, it's seriously addictive!
So, neodymium for science or for fun? Try the Wiki M-Cube then decide! I think your kids will agree that physics just got that little bit more interesting.
