What are The Effects Of Extracting Rare-Earth Metals?

Rare earth metals have become an essential resource in the present world due to technological development. Almost all the countries try to develop their own technological goods, which has created a huge demand for rare earth metals in the present world. However, the entire process which is associated with extracting rare earth metals is very disruptive to the world we live. They are being mined with a technology called open pit mining techniques. When following this technique, heavy machinery and equipment are used to create a hole in the earth and dig for rare earth metals.

During the refining process of rare earth metals, a lot of byproducts are released to the environment. We can consider them as pollutants since they have the potential to ruin the atmosphere. Moreover, the process of extracting rare earth metals is a complex one and it is associated with the usage of different solvents, acids and many other chemical based materials. Last but not least, a large amount of energy and water is consumed during the entire process. At the end of the day, it can produce enormous amounts of waste gas, waste water and other forms of waste residue.

In February 2014, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China introduced a new plan which can reduce the harm done by rare earth metals to the world. This plan is known as Cleaner Production Technology Promotion Plan for the Rare Earth Industry. As mentioned in this plan, the main objective of China is to enhance the speed of promotion and industrial application of the process of separating low sodium and low carbon free ammonia nitrogen rare earth oxide. They are also planning to increase the efficiency of purification technologies, which create a lot of damage to the earth. With this plan, China will be able to reduce the acid base requirement which is associated with rare earth melting, and separation. If they can continue this plan without any disruption, they will be able to make the comprehensive use of available rare earth resources by the year 2017.

The government of China has asked relevant departments to speed up the implementation process of this plan as soon as possible. The sooner they implement it; the sooner they can reduce the damage caused to the environment. The industrial technological level of China has experienced a significant growth within the past few decades. However, this has created a huge impact on the environment. The new plan will be able to save 373,000 tons of sodium hydroxide, 120,000 tons of hydrochloric acid and 50,000 tons of ammonia per year. By 2017, China will be able to experience the benefits of the Cleaner Production Technological Promotion Plan of the Rare earth industry.

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Based in California, Stanford Magnets has been involved in the R&D and sales of licensed rare-earth magnets, Neodymium magnets and SmCo magnets, ceramic magnets, flexible magnets and magnetic assemblies since the mid of 1980s. We supply all these types of magnets in a wide range of shapes, sizes and grades.

Is Wind Power Becoming More Competitive?

The power generation of the world has increased incredibly during the past few years. According to the latest Global Wind Report Annual Market Update 2014 from the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), it is reported that the global wind power market increased by about 10% in 2013 alone. Within the United States, more than 200 gigawatts of wind power has been produced within 2013. All these statistical figures clearly specify that wind power is becoming more competitive.

Wind can be considered as a great alternative available for fossil fuels. This fact has led many leading nations in the world to use wind for their energy requirements. They are spending billions of dollars per year on making new wind turbines and consider them as a great investment done towards the future. The prices of turbines have also fallen dramatically in order to support this. As a result of that and the availability of wind, the amount of money required to make energy out of wind is 5.5 percent, when compared to the cost from coal.

Wind is one of the cheapest and effective power sources that you can find in the present world. It even has the potential to compete on its own, without the existence of subsides. In addition, it is an environmental friendly energy source. Using fossil fuels to cater the energy requirements cannot be considered as a long-term method since it gives life to a wide array of byproducts which are harmful to the environment. Moreover, the fossil fuels are limited and we will have to look for an alternative option in the long run. But wind is available in plenty of amounts and we can use it according to the way we want. However, you should also note that there are certain limitations in using wind due to the effect of dirty air. When considered in general, it is more competitive and effective than the other energy sources out there.

According to the experts, it costs about one million dollars for the wind turbines to make one megawatt of energy. This is extremely cheap when compared with the cost of using fossil fuels such as coal. That’s the main reason why many experts say that wind is more competitive than all the other energy sources out there. With the current world trends, the price of gas will be unaffordable by the year 2020 and there should be an alternative option to consider. At the moment, wind is the only hope to this issue. The United States, it is expected to install about 40 gigawatts of new wind turbines during this year. The cost of wind power has also been reduced by about 90% during the past two decades. All these initiatives will assist the people to save the world we live and cater the increasing energy requirements of the world in a convenient manner. 

About Stanford Magnets. http://www.stanfordmagnets.com/

Based in California, Stanford Magnets has been involved in the R&D and sales of licensed Rare-earth permanent magnets, Neodymium magnets and SmCo magnets, ceramic magnets, flexible magnets and magnetic assemblies since the mid of 1980s. We supply all these types of magnets in a wide range of shapes, sizes and grades.

How Do Neodymium Magnets Work

Neodymium magnets invented in the early 1980s by General Motors (GM) and Sumitomo Special Metals. Neodymium magnets (also known as NdFeB; NIB or Neo magnets) are the strongest type of permanent magnets commercially available. These neodymium magnets are very strong; cheap; and small. Neodymium magnets made numerous advances in electric motors; audio systems and data storing.

These super strong magnets are made of an alloy (NIB—neodymium); boron and iron. The arrangement of electron in these materials lets them develop strong magnetic fields. The magnetic field is very strong; so we need small amounts of rare earth elements to make a small power full magnet.

The chemical composition of neodymium magnets is Nd₂Fe₁₄B. This crystal structure has exceptionally high uniaxial magneto crystalline anisotropy. This anisotropy gives the compound the potential to have high coercivity. The crystal also has a high saturation magnetization and typically 1.3teslas. Therefore the maximum energy density is proportional to Js2. This neodymium magnetic phase has the potential for storing large amounts of magnetic energy. The magnetic properties of these power full magnets depend on the microstructure; alloy composition; and manufacturing technique which are used by the manufacture.

The neodymium magnets are mainly used in audio systems and electric motors; Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); loudspeakers and headphones; bench top NMR spectrometers; mechanical e-cigarette firing switches; magnetic bearings and couplings; head actuators for computer hard disks; magnetic guitar pickups; servomotors; spindle and stepper motors; cordless tools; drive motors for hybrid and electric vehicles; electric generators for wind turbines; lifting and compressor motors; synchronous motors; electrical power steering; magnetic jewelry clasps;  sport parachute equipment; Linx anti-reflux system; and children's magnetic building sets.

 About Stanford Magnets. http://www.stanfordmagnets.com/

Based in California, Stanford Magnets has been involved in the R&D and sales of licensed Rare-earth permanent magnets, Neodymium magnets and SmCo magnets, ceramic magnets, flexible magnets and magnetic assemblies since the mid of 1980s. We supply all these types of magnets in a wide range of shapes, sizes and grades.