Hitachi Develops High-efficiency Motor Without Using Neodymium

By Shinya Saeki – Hitachi Ltd and Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co Ltd co-developed a permanent magnet synchronous motor with an efficiency of 93% without using a neodymium (Nd-Fe-B) magnet, which contains a rare-earth material.

With the new technologies, it is possible to realize an industrial motor whose performance is equivalent to that of a neodymium magnet-based motor at lower costs, the companies said. As one of the solutions to address the export restriction imposed by China, which accounts for 90% of the rare-earth materials produced in the world. more> http://tinyurl.com/7t5wldf

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China’s Rare Earth Export Cutbacks Raise Alarms

By Kristin Lewotsky – Rare earth elements such as neodymium (Nd) and dysprosium (Dy) play essential roles in products ranging from motors to white-light LEDs. Permanent magnets containing Nd typically produce magnetic fields five or more times as large as those produced by ferric magnets. The addition of Dy prevents them from demagnetizing at high temperatures. Those attributes make rare earth magnets highly appealing for motor applications.

Opening or reopening mines outside China — is already under way around the globe. Molycorp Minerals LLC of Greenwood Village, Colo., has secured permits and $781 million in funding to reopen the Mountain Pass mine in California, which was priced out of the market in 2004. more> http://is.gd/vFEjng