Earth magnets are made from the alloys of rare earth elements. These are more permanent and stronger than the other types of magnets. Earth magnets are used by various industries all over the world. Some of their popular applications include:
- Audio speakers
- Computer hard drives
- Fishing reel brakes
- Bicycle dynamos
- Wind turbines
- Diamagnetic levitation experiments
- Launched roller coasters
- Stop motion animations
Since they are highly brittle and corrosive in nature, earth magnets are usually coated in nickel to prevent chipping and breaking and to enhance their durability.
Types of earth magnets
The most popular earth magnets used today are neodymium and samarium cobalt magnets. Discovered in the 1980s, the neodymium magnet is the strongest earth magnet known to man. It is made from an alloy of iron, boron, and neodymium. The magnetic field strength of the neodymium magnet is quite high. It is very affordable, and it is easier to customize this magnet to meet your particular requirements. You can get it in any shape, size and strength.
Samarium cobalt magnets were developed in the 1970s. These were the first type of earth magnets made from rare earth alloys. An alloy of cobalt and samarium is used to make samarium cobalt magnet. They have high temperature ratings because of their higher Curie temperature. Samarium cobalt is resistant to oxidation, but it chips and cracks easily. The magnetic field of this magnet is very weak. Since samarium cobalt magnets are highly expensive, there is very limited production.
Applications of neodymium magnets
Neodymium magnets are used in a variety of fields, such as industrial, security, health, mechanics, electronics, etc. They are used in:
- Manufacturing synchronous, stepper and spindle motors
- Making couplings and bearings
- Resonance imaging
- Healthcare machines
- Security systems
- Telephones and televisions
- Video applications
- Oil filters
- Metal and chip detectors
- Children’s magnetic toys
- Digital cameras
- Watches
Applications of samarium cobalt magnet
The uses of the samarium cobalt magnet include:
- Manufacturing of high speed motors and turbo machinery
- Designing traveling-wave tubes
- Making of some musical instruments
Earth magnets in jewelry
Recently, earth magnets have found their way into a new area of use. Neodymium magnets are used in magnetic jewelry to make magnetic necklaces, bracelets, etc. This type of jewelry does not need clasps or strings to close or hold it in place. They also provide the benefit of magnetic therapy to the wearer.
Drawbacks of earth magnets
While earth magnets have many benefits, they also present several hazards. They can cause physical injuries to the human body when the skin gets pinched between two magnets or a magnet and a metal object. The strong magnetic fields of earth magnets may erase magnetic data from credit cards or hard drives. They could also affect the functioning of pacemakers.
Earth magnets have become an inseparable part of the everyday life of human beings. Almost 90% of the applications and devices we use daily, such as mobile phones, cars, computers, etc., contain these wonderful magnets.
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