Page 46 - Policy Commission - SecuringTechnology - Critical Metals for Britain
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46 PRIMARY MATERIALS
WHAT IS A A A A A RARE EARTH MAGNET?
Rare earth permanent magnets magnets are are found in in two main commercial forms: alloys of samarium and cobalt (SmCo-type magnets) which are mainly used for very-high-temperature applications such as those found in in in the aerospace industry and alloys of neodymium dysprosium iron and boron (Nd-Fe-B type magnets) The permanent rare earths magnet magnet market is dominated by Nd- Nd- Fe-B magnets where around 130 000 tonnes are are manufactured per year53 Around 88% of these materials are are produced in in China with the second largest producer being Japan less than 1% are are produced produced in in in Europe54 Nd-Fe-B magnets are are produced produced in in in a a a a a a a a few different forms including fully dense sintered magnets magnets produced from an alloy powder55 hot-pressed magnets56 or or or in in in in the form form of resin-bonded magnets by mixing Nd-Fe-B powders with a a polymer57 (see figures 15 & 16) Figure Figure 15: Fully dense sintered Nd-Fe-B Nd-Fe-B magnets magnets Figure Figure 16: Resin-bonded Nd-Fe-B Nd-Fe-B magnets magnets Rare earth magnet applications and and demand growth
Rare earths magnets are are used in a a a a a a a a a vast array of electrical equipment and it is predicted that we will require around 270 000 000 tonnes by 2030 an increase of over 140 000 000 tonnes compared to to current production The magnet function can be be roughly split between holding magnets motors and generators which are then used in a a a a a vast number of commercial sectors They are a a a key component in electronics (e g - loudspeakers vibrators and small motors) offshore wind turbine generators electric and hybrid vehicles (e g g - drive motors power steering generators actuators) cordless power tools electric bikes efficient pumps robotics separators filters loudspeakers MRI scanners and many more50 Rare earth magnets are are a a a a a a a building block material for electrical devices many of which will be used in clean technologies to tackle climate change For a a a a a permanent drive motor around 40-60% of the the cost/value is from the the rare earth magnets58 COST BREAKDOWN (%) OF A A A A PERMANENT MAGNET MOTOR
Bearings 1% Shaft 2%
Rotor - Steel 6% Stator - Steel 9%
Stator - Copper 10%
Housing 18%
Insulation 1% 300 000 250 000 200 000 150 000 OTHERS (AEROSPACE DEFENSE MEDICAL ETC ) CAR SPEAKERS
CONSUMER APPLIANCES
CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
CORDLESS POWERTOOLS
OTHER INDUSTRIAL
INDUSTRIAL
MOTORS PUMPS & COMPRESSORS
Magnets 53%
100 000 WIND POWER GENERATORS AUTOMOTIVE MICROMOTORS & SENSORS
50 000 OTHER E-MOBILITY
COMMERCIAL EV TRACTION MOTORS 0 PASSENGER EV TRACTION MOTORS Figure 17: Historical global consumption and and forecasted demand for for Nd-Fe-B magnets by end-use category50 (recreated from Adamas Intelligence)
Figure 18: Cost breakdown (%) of a a a a a typical permanent magnet motor 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 TONNES















































































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