The materials for the production of permanent magnets are primarily extracted from specific natural resources. The main materials used include:
Neodymium (NdFeB):
Neodymium is one of the key components of neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets, which are the strongest permanent magnets. Neodymium is a relatively rare element mainly extracted in countries such as China, which holds a large share of the global rare earth production.
Samarium (Sm):
Samarium is another rare element that, combined with cobalt (Co), forms samarium-cobalt (SmCo) magnets, which are resistant to high temperatures. Samarium is also sourced from rare earth mines, mainly in China, but also in Australia and California (USA).
Cobalt (Co):
Cobalt, used in samarium-cobalt magnets, is primarily extracted in Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo), which is one of the world’s leading producers of this metal.
Alnico:
Alnico is an alloy primarily composed of aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni), and cobalt (Co). These metals are extracted from mines located in various countries, with China and Russia being significant producers of nickel and cobalt.
Ferrite (ceramics):
Ceramic magnets, or ferrites, are mainly made from iron oxides (Fe) combined with barium (Ba) or strontium (Sr). These materials are abundant, and iron oxide is commonly found in iron mines in many countries, including China, Brazil, and Australia. Barium and strontium are extracted from natural resources, with barium primarily sourced from China and India, while strontium is found in China and Mexico.
In summary, the materials for the production of permanent magnets are mainly extracted in countries such as China, Congo, Australia, Russia, and the USA, depending on the type of magnet and the materials involved.
