Sunday, April 20, 2014

Magnetic Electricity What Is It All About?



Along with the development of technology, people get the opportunity to experience new types of magnetic materials. The scientists are working hard to develop highly sensitive magnetic materials that can be used to provide effective appliances in the present world. For example, these highly sensitive magnets can be beneficial for energy storage devices as well as computer hard drives. 

These sensitive magnets have the potential to change its magnetic properties in a dramatic way according to the changes that take place in the environment. Electronic engineers have found this as an extremely useful property in the development of many modern world appliances. There is no other material in the present world that can deliver such results. 

This sensitive magnetic material consists of thin layers of vanadium oxide and nickel. This has helped the magnet to create a structure that can response better to heat changes. Therefore, its magnetic properties can also be changed with current or voltage. 

At low temperatures, the magnet works as an insulator while it works as a conductor in high temperatures. However, the scientists have identified that it works as a strange material in between high and low temperatures. Even though the scientists have not figured out an exact method on how this special magnet can be used, they have already created the outline for a wide range of applications. The computing memory systems hold a prominent place out of them. 

A major issue that is associated with magnetic memory is reversibility. The best systems that you can find in the present world are heat assisted. Since they seek the assistance of lasers, they are associated with a lot of heat. This new sensitive magnet does not need that much of heat. This helps a lot for the people to use it as a great element when creating systems. 

Another potential use of these high sensitive magnets is electricity networks. They can be used to develop special transformers that can manage sudden current surges that can happen as a result of a power surge or a lightning strike. This can give life to entirely unexpected technologies that can help a lot for the people to make their lives easy. This example of giant magneto resistance has therefore been able to won even a world prize as a result of that. The people are hoping that it can give life to these amazing appliances in the near future.


About Stanford Magnets.
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.


Thursday, April 10, 2014

Why Do We Need To Think Of Renewable Energy?



People in the present world are looking to cater their energy requirements using the renewable energy sources. It is affordable, clean, effectively infinite and domestic. Green energy does not produce any emissions like in fossil fuel burning and everyone will get the opportunity to experience clean water and air as a result of that. In addition, some parts of the world stimulate local economies from the profit that they get from green energy production. 

United States is gifted with some of the best wind resources in the world. Scientists have predicted that this amount is enough to cater 10 times of the existing power needs of the country. Wind energy is also recognized as one of the most cost effective energy generation sources. The cost associated with implementing a wind farm is low when compared to new installations of gas, coal and nuclear power. The low cost of materials such as neodymium that are used in the production of wind turbines have played a major role behind the above mentioned fact. This has even given life to over 400 wind power manufacturing plants within the country. 

Having mentioned about the importance of wind power, it is also important to consider the wind power manufacturing process as well. Energy is made out of wind with the help of wind turbines. Usually, these turbines are located about 200 feet above the ground level. These turbines are used to harness the wind and convert them into energy. When the wind blows, the blades in the turbine are rotated. These blades are connected to a drive shaft that is connected to a generator at the other end. This generator is responsible for the energy generation process. Electricity is generated in the form of alternating current and it can be connected to the national grid without any problem. 

During the year 2012, around 2% of the energy requirements in United States were achieved using the wind power. It was able to provide energy for more than 8.7 million homes. When it comes to Australia, wind power was responsible for catering about 15% of the needs because of carbon taxes and other restrictions. These percentages are expected to rise within the near future as a rise in demand.

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.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Neodymium Is The Heart Of Wind Turbines



As a result of global warming, many countries are trying to cater their energy requirements using the green energy sources. Solar energy and wind energy have gained much attention as a result of that. Out of these two options, wind power is recognized as the most effective method available to generate energy. In order to generate this energy, large scale wind farms should be there in operation and they need to have efficient turbines. 

Have you ever wondered what makes these turbines convert wind power into energy? They have in-built motors that are made out of a special rare earth magnet called neodymium. Special properties that exist in this rare earth magnet have forced people to use them in motors that are used in wind turbines. China is responsible for about 90% of the world’s neodymium requirements. This rare earth magnet is made as a result of chemical bonds that take place in between other minerals and materials. Therefore, they need to be extracted using special methods, which cause huge environmental impacts. This has resulted in the production of inconsumable underground water in some parts of China. 

Neodymium can be considered as a powerful and a strong magnet. Its weight is significantly low when compared to other rare earth magnets available. Moreover, it is affordable and the manufacturers can use them in their productions without any hesitation. These reasons have forced people to use neodymium in the production of wind turbines since there is no better option available. 

The neodymium industry faced a huge problem after 2010 along with the restrictions that Chinese government put on their rare earth magnet exports. Xingjian and Siemens, who are two of the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturers, have greatly been affected by these restrictions. However, Enercon, which is a German manufacturer that make direct drive turbines without neodymium have not been affected by this because they follow a unique path. They don’t need to use permanent magnets because of their unique mechanism, but the cost associated in the production process is extremely high. Therefore, many wind turbine manufacturers, especially in United States have request China to continue their regular supply of rare earth magnets.  


About Stanford Magnets.
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.

Monday, April 7, 2014

The Secret Behind Wind Energy

Many countries in the present world are trying to cater their energy requirements using green energy sources. Along with the increasing demand for green energy, rare earth materials like neodymium have gained much attention. They are critical components in the manufacturing process of wind turbines that can be found in wind farms.

Even though wind farms help us to protect the world, the process of extracting neodymium is damaging the environment. China is recognized as the world’s largest supplier of neodymium and they have highly ignored the warnings issued by environmental specialists. Their negative effects can be seen today; the Mongolia’s widening sea of radioactive waste is a perfect example to prove this. US government has understood these negative consequences and they have dramatically reduced the rare earth metal production during the past few years.

From the above mentioned facts, it is clear that many countries have thought about the greener aspect of making energy out of wind. However, they don’t seem to have any other ideal alternative option. For example, solar power is too expensive and it is not efficient like wind power. Moreover, fossil fuel burning directly contributes towards global warming. In order to minimize these harmful effects, the developers of wind farms are trying to make them more efficient. Countries like Australia are following an environmentally friendly way in the process of extracting neodymium.

When it comes to China, Inner Mongolia contains over 90% of the world’s neodymium reserves. China is focusing more on this area to cater the requirements of the world. The factories that have come to this area for the process of neodymium extraction have created huge lakes of toxic waste. The most notable damage is the emission of poison to water, air and livestock. This has created huge health issues for the people who live around the area including cancers and breathing problems.

Jamie Choi, who is an expert about toxics and poisons in China has mentioned that only one step in the extraction of neodymium has created environmental issues. Further he has mentioned that a large amount of acid is pumped into the ores that are located in the ground along with several chemicals to facilitate the process of extraction. The byproducts of this process are dumped into tailing lakes after that and they can create health issues to people all around China. However, they are not planning to cut down the production or restrict the usage of these harmful processes of manufacturing neodymium.

About Stanford Magnets: 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.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

China Violated Free Trade with Rare Earth Restrictions



China has been dominating the world’s rare earth magnet exporting industry over the past few years. However, during the last couple of years, they implemented several restrictions on the export of rare earth magnets that created a lot of hassle in the world industry. It was even reported that China broke the international trade laws by implementing these restrictions on the export of rare earth magnets that are essential for modern world manufacturing processes. This incident was reported in a World Trade Organization panel discussion that took place in the last week of March. 

The reports have forced the Chinese government to think twice about their restrictions. They will even have to face trade sanctions from United States, who took the initiative in bringing the case, Japan and European Union. Before these export restrictions, China has been catering 9/10th of the world’s rare earth magnet supply. These rare earth elements were used in many industries including the manufacturing process of motors. The reduction in supply has directly affected this production and that is the main reason why these countries are forcing China to take off the restrictions. 

From the statistical records, it is clear that China has reduced the terbium oxide production by 8.6 percent, terbium metal production by 6.1 percent and dysprosium oxide by 8 percent. In addition, the reduction of neodymium supply by 2.3 percent during the first few months of 2014 has greatly affected these industries, which heavily rely on it. Many experts predict that if China continues implementing these restrictions, they will have to look for alternatives or else ask China to follow a flexible policy on their exports. 

However, it is clear that China has not completely restricted the export of all the types of rare earth elements. For example, export of Samarium oxide has remained unchanged for the past few months. In addition, it has also been reported that the yttrium prices have been following a steady path for few weeks. Unfortunately, the elements with the biggest demand like neodymium have not remained unchanged, which has caused much hassle for the countries that heavily depend on these elements. 

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.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

How Does Illicit Rare-Earth Smuggling Affect The Chinese Industry?

During the year 2013, the Chinese government started breaking down on the smuggling of rare earth metals. It created a huge impact on the Chinese government and they lost about 20,000 tons of rare earth oxides, which were exported illegally. This can be considered as a huge amount when compared to the countries legal rare earth oxide production of 81,000 metric tons in the same year.

From the statistical information, it has been identified that China holds about 30% of the world’s rare earth reserves. After their discovery of rare earth elements in 1980, they experienced a significant growth in the production of rare earth metals to the market, until it was cut down in 2013. According to Situation of Rare Earth Industry Economy Operation in 2013, which is the annual report of Ministry of Industry in China, the total value of the exports were estimated about 12.6 billion dollars per year. However, the Chinese government put some restrictions to their rare earth element exports and it has created a wide range of illegal activities. Most of these illegal activities rotate around crimes that target mining activities. Then these rare earth metals are exported in an illegal manner to different countries. The other countries who pioneer in motor and electronic industry prefer to import such rare earth metals because they can reduce the production cost by a great amount.

However, smuggling rare earth elements have created a huge impact on the economy of China. The Chinese government implemented these restrictions in order to experience a boost in the economy during the next few years. Unfortunately, these illegal exports have put the Chinese economy in trouble and the government is looking for a convenient solution to get rid of this hassle.

According to the reported instances, smuggling forced the government of China to cancel 161 rare earth element licenses within the year 2013. In addition, 127 different companies were orders to cease their production activities until rectification. In addition, they reduced the production quotas to fewer than 16,000 tons and they are in the process of cutting down that amount further in 2014. The government of China lost 1.3 billion dollars within 2013 and they are trying to reduce this loss caused by illegal activities during 2014 by lowering the prices. Moreover, a large number of campaigns have been started to reduce the short term effects. The responsible authorities are also forcing the government to implement necessary laws and regulate the industry as soon as possible.


About Stanford Magnets: 
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.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Neodymium - The Most Commonly Used of Rare Earth Magnets



Neodymium can be considered as one of the most commonly used rare earth magnets that you can find in the present world. The strength and affordability of those magnets have played a major role behind their popularity. These permanent magnets donot easily lose their magnetism. Since their discovery in 1970s, the Neodymium has been a prominent element in many industries.  

Neodymium is a composition of some rare earth elements including nickel, iron and cobalt. They are usually coated for protection that can take place as a result of industry work. The biggest advantage of Neodymium is their strength. Usually the rare earth magnets are stronger than other available permanent magnets, but Neodymium is the strongest. Its unique strength comes from the extremely high magnetic field. Even though Neodymium is a strong rare earth magnet, it is extremely affordable. That is the reason why many people seek the assistance of Neodymium in industries like security, mechanics, health and electronics. 

In the present world, Neodymium plays a major role behind wind power generation. Wind power is generated from wind turbines, which require light weight and efficient motors. Neodymium has the ability to give life to such motors. The affordability of Neodymium has helped a lot for the people to implement new wind farms without any hassle and cater the increasing energy requirements of people. 

Wind power is defined as a more established alternative energy source. In the rural areas of the world, you can find homeowners who seek the assistance of wind power to cater their basic energy requirements. However, such wind turbines cannot be implemented in large scale to provide support for the national electricity grid, without the assistance of Neodymium. These precious magnets have incredibly reduced the weight of motors while maintaining their efficiency. At the end of the day, it has helped people to make efficient wind turbines and create energy in an environmental friendly way.

About Stanford Magnets.
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.