United States actively develop rare earth magnets "alternatives"

Periodic table seems an old-fashioned , proven scientific research in the form of miniature. This is not so much the form of scientific research and high-tech wind turbines or high fuel efficiency car engine related , not as concerned with the high school chemistry .

But the rows of the periodic table of the elements that most people never heard creation and clean energy technology is essential . In recent years , shortages and international politics on these substances - their names vary, such as neodymium and yttrium - pose a threat .

Last year, the Department of Energy grants $ 120 million to set up a key raw material in the Iowa Ames Research Laboratory . The Institute is committed to increase ( shortage substances ) production and the development of alternative substances to prevent a shortage situation.

In Northeastern University, a chemical engineer Laura Lewis summed up by a quick demonstration of her working on scientific problems : she pushed over a metal shallow dish , a plate which has a slightly rust magnet on the table , she wants to watch who tried to pry out the magnet . It is possible but very difficult .

This is NdFeB magnets, from scooters to a variety of applications in which fighters are critical materials . Over the past five years, the problem of supply and price of NdFeB magnets , rare earth elements because of China 's production and export policy changes. So , like Lewis Can such research efforts of scientists to design alternatives.

Lewis's research career began in the 1990s . She was trying to make sense of such a focus is containing rare earth elements "super magnet" Why is there a strong magnetic magnetism and how to increase them . But the government later support of such studies continue to decrease , she adjusted the research focus. In 2009, Lewis saw while traveling in Germany, most people will not notice a headline : " China's rare earth ore to increase control efforts ."

Lewis said : "I was called out , ' Oh , boy ,' because the use of these rare earth mine too broad , with the military and energy sectors are closely related. This led to what I call the rare earth crisis. "

Today, China 's trade control problem seems to be solved gradually . Lewis is committed to finding new ways to create a super with magnets containing rare earth elements comparable magnet. For inspiration , she tries to create a unique atomic structure , but we are also a variety of natural structures. For example , on some meteorites contain strong magnetic iron - nickel- structure.

Lewis has been in the lab to try to synthesize new magnet has similar characteristics with sophisticated equipment .

But industrial ecology at Yale University professor Thomas Del Gray said: " We are increasingly accustomed to using the elements we know the most suitable for a particular purpose . The more we do , the harder it is to find a good alternative substances. "

Graddol said he is most worried about is that some of the metal used in a large number of high quality and there is no alternative substances. Copper has conductivity is a good example . If there is a shortage of copper , silver would have to use instead of the much more expensive .


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