Neodymium magnets are a type of rare earth magnet. They are the strongest rare earth magnets and can be very dangerous if handled improperly. They are often referred to as rare earth magnets because they belong to the rare earth elements on the periodic table. But they are not the same as rare earth magnets. There are different types of rare earth magnets and Neodymium magnets are just one type. Neodymium magnets are the strongest permanent magnets available today.
Neodymium magnets are also known as Neodymium-Iron-Boron or Nd-Fe-B or NIB super magnets since they are composed of these elements. These magnets are extremely strong for their small size and are metallic in appearance.
Identifying The Poles Of Neodymium Magnets
There are 3 different ways in which you can identify the poles of Neodymium magnets.
- The simplest way is to use another Neodymium magnet that is already marked. By virtue of magnetic properties, the North Pole of the marked magnet will attract the North Pole of the unmarked Neodymium magnet and repel the South Pole.
- Take a compass and bring it close to the Neodymium magnet you want to mark. The North Pole of the compass will be attracted to the South Pole of the Neodymium magnet and repelled by the North Pole.
- Take a magnet and dangle it by a string so that it is freely rotating. The North Pole of the magnet will be the one that points north.
Attributes Of Neodymium Magnets
There are several attributes of Neodymium magnets that differentiate them from other magnets.
- Neodymium magnets are very strong permanent magnets. In fact they are the strongest of all rare earth magnets and also the strongest permanent magnets that exist today.
- Neodymium magnets have a very high resistance to demagnetization. This makes them very useful in many different kinds of industrial applications.
- Even small sized Neodymium magnets have a very high energy. This makes them easily portable from one place to another.
- They are good in ambient temperature.
- Another major attribute of Neodymium magnets that has added to their popularity is the affordability factor. Neodymium magnets, unlike previous high strength magnets like tiny cobalt-samarium magnets, are priced very low and can be afforded by educators and experimenters on their limited budgets.
- Neodymium magnets are very corrosive and hence have to be handled carefully. It is best to coat them for long-term maximum energy output and usage.
- Neodymium magnets have a low working temperature for heat applications and can catch fire at high temperatures.
