NASA uses neodymium magnets to maintain the muscular tonus of astronauts during space flights. These magnets are thought to have a curing effect and are therefore sometimes called “magic magnets”. An increase in their usage has been observed over the last decade. The health sector is another field where neodymium magnets are incorporated in medical devices for example in magnetic resonance imaging devices to diagnose and treat chronic pain syndrome, arthritis, wound healing, insomnia, headache, and several other diseases due to their ability to generate a static magnetic field. They are also used in jewelry clips, identification badges and in the production of baby strollers that are attached to carriers via magnets. Additionally, they are beneficial in covering machines, cars with awning and in the production of magnetic tool belts. Grease filter producers use neodymium magnets in metal separators to more effectively filter out iron powder in oil. Neodymium magnets are also commonly used in magnetic separators, filters, ionizers, in production of on–off buttons, safety sector and security systems. In the field of information technology, neodymium magnets are particularly used in hard disc drives, mobile phones, video and audio systems of television. Because it provides high magnetic force even in lesser amounts, it has been increasingly given a more prominent role in the manufacture of strong permanent magnets made up of rare earth elements. Neodymium-iron-boron magnets were developed by General Motors and Hitachi in the 1980s. In nature, neodymium does not exist in metallic or in mixed forms with other lanthanides but is refined for general use and has been mined in the USA, Brazil, India, Australia, Sri Lanka, and predominantly in China. Lanthanides play important roles in new technological developments, such as wind turbines, electronic hybrid vehicles, and in the defense industry.
This element (atomic number 60) has a silvery-white metallic color and belongs to the group of lanthanides, which is a subgroup of rare earth elements (atomic numbers 57–71) in the periodic table and rapidly oxidizes in air. Neodymium is a chemical element that was discovered in 1885.
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