![]() These magnets are very strong and make the turbines highly efficient. Some large turbines require two TONS of rare earth magnets. Rare earth magnets are used in wind turbines. Several uses of rare earth elements are summarized in the accompanying table. Substitutes can be used for rare earth elements in some defense applications however, those substitutes are usually not as effective and that diminishes military superiority. Rare earth metals are key ingredients for making the very hard alloys used in armored vehicles and projectiles that shatter upon impact. These give the United States military an enormous advantage. The military uses night-vision goggles, precision-guided weapons, communications equipment, GPS equipment, batteries, and other defense electronics. Rare earth elements play an essential role in our national defense. "white noise" production in stealth technology Permanent magnets that are stable at high temperatures ![]() Laser range-finders, guidance systems, communicationsįluorescents and phosphors in lamps and monitorsĪmplifiers in fiber-optic data transmission Other types of polish, such as aluminum oxide and titanium oxide, are now used in its place. The recent price increases have almost eliminated the use of cerium oxide in rock tumbling and the lapidary arts. Other substances can be substituted for rare earth elements in their most important uses however, these substitutes are usually less effective and costly.įrom the 1950s until the early 2000s, cerium oxide was a very popular lapidary polish. ![]() All of these products are expected to experience rising demand. These are used for air pollution control, illuminated screens on electronic devices, and the polishing of optical-quality glass. Rare earths are used as catalysts, phosphors, and polishing compounds. As concerns for energy independence, climate change, and other issues drive the sale of electric and hybrid vehicles, the demand for batteries made with rare earth compounds will climb even faster. Several pounds of rare earth compounds are in batteries that power every electric vehicle and hybrid-electric vehicle. Demand for the batteries is being driven by demand for portable electronic devices such as cell phones, readers, portable computers, and cameras. Many rechargeable batteries are made with rare earth compounds. Uses of Rare Earth Elements in the United States The use of rare earth elements in computers has grown almost as fast as cell phones. Twenty years ago very few people owned a mobile phone, but today over 5 billion people own a mobile device. Rare earth metals and alloys that contain them are used in many devices that people use every day such as computer memory, DVDs, rechargeable batteries, cell phones, catalytic converters, magnets, fluorescent lighting and much more.ĭuring the past twenty years, there has been an explosion in demand for many items that require rare earth metals.
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