Table of Contents
Context: India’s rare earth magnet imports surged amid China’s export curbs, raising alarm for EV and auto sectors, prompting supply concerns, diplomatic action, and a push for self-reliance.
What are Permanent Magnets?
- Permanent magnets generate a magnetic field without any external power source.
- Once magnetized, they retain their magnetic strength for a long time.
- Typically made from metals like iron, nickel, cobalt, or rare earth elements such as neodymium and samarium.
What are Rare Earth Permanent Magnets?
- These are permanent magnets made using rare earth elements (17 elements in total).
- Key rare earth elements include neodymium, samarium, and dysprosium.
- They possess exceptionally strong magnetic properties.
| FACT |
| India’s first facility to produce rare earth permanent magnets is in Visakhapatnam. |
Advantages of Permanent Magnets over Ordinary Magnets
- Rare earth magnets produce much stronger magnetic fields than ordinary ferrous magnets.
- Enable compact, lightweight, and high-performance motors.
- Known for high magnetic field strength and large torque output.
- Widely used in electronics, automobiles, and military equipment.
- Crucial for advanced technologies like hypersonic weapons and directed energy systems.
- Helps tackle rising e-waste in India.
Technology Used in Indian Plant
- Based on indigenous reduction-diffusion technology.
- Produces:
- Samarium-Cobalt (SmCo) magnets
- Neodymium-Iron-Boron (NdFeB) magnets
Significance for India
- Reduces dependence on foreign supply chains for rare earth metals.
- Strengthens the Make in India initiative.
- Supports demand in key sectors: electronics, defense, and aerospace.
Concerns with E-waste Collection & Recycling
- Weak institutional and management systems.
- Only about 22% of e-waste is currently collected.
- Recycling mainly focuses on extracting gold and silver, not rare earths.
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