Dr. Reed M. Izatt opines that the military of 2016 differs in significant ways from that of a century ago. Weapons based on hydraulic and mechanical principles dominated the scene through much of the 20th century. The electronic-based weaponry of today is particularly impressive for its advanced capabilities. What is very well understood by the military, but less so by the average citizen, is that modern electronics-based weaponry depends on rare earth metals for its function. Without such resources, including selected rare earth metals, much of this weaponry could not be manufactured. For example, high-strength magnets make possible the operation of actuators and sensors involved in transmission of information to weapons allowing them to complete designated tasks.
As in domestic and commercial use of iPhones, iPads, computers, and an extensive array of flat, touch-screen devices, the military depends on these and other high-tech products on a continuing basis to accomplish tasks and enable communication between persons, persons and equipment devices, and between devices themselves. These products, and many more, contain technology metals, which have essential, usually irreplaceable, roles in the function of equipment essential to our contemporary society.
Use of rare earth metals in defense applications has been summarized. These metals are found in two types of commercially available, permanent magnet materials, i.e. samarium cobalt (SmCo), and neodymium iron boron (NdFeB). These are considered the strongest permanent magnets and are essential to many military weapons systems. Impressive functional properties are possible because of the unique structural and electronic properties of technology metals including dysprosium, neodymium, samarium, terbium, yttrium, erbium, europium, indium, rhenium, iridium, tantalum, tellurium, and many others. Technology metals are key, indispensable components of the advanced materials and products.
Original URL showing 404: https://investorintel.com/technology-metals-intel/military-success-rare-metals-and-the-periodic-table/
Managed & Built by I2M Consulting, LLC | © 2010-
