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Article: RARE EARTH METALS.
- Article from:
- Advanced Materials & Processes
- Article date:
- July 1, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 ASM International. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Rare earth metals have limited applications because of their high cost, extreme sensitivity to contaminants, poor mechanical properties, high chemical reactivity, and most significantly, a broad lack of physical property data and metallurgical information. Nevertheless, they are added to stainless steels and aluminum and magnesium alloys to improve properties. Spark igniters such as lighter flints are made of the rare-earth mixture known as mischmetal, and so-called "super-magnets" are made of rare earths such as neodymium and gadolinium. Other applications include superconducting devices, lithium/metal hydride batteries, and a wide variety of ceramic and other materials. ...