Rare earths in electronics: what they are and where they sit
Rare earths are a family of metallic elements, and in electronics they matter most as the ingredient that makes a small magnet strong. Not every magnet contains them, and not every device with a motor or a speaker holds a rare-earth magnet. It depends on the design.
60NdRare earthsRare earths are a group of elements
Rare-earth elements are a group of 17 elements: the lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium. They are used in technologies including permanent magnets and electronics. A product can contain a processed rare-earth metal or alloy rather than a piece of mineral ore. Recycling seeks to recover useful materials from products that have already been manufactured.1
Neodymium and other rare earths in permanent magnets
Neodymium and dysprosium are examples of rare-earth elements found in permanent magnets. Recovering and purifying rare earths from manufactured materials is an alternative to obtaining them from ores, but separation and purification can still be difficult and costly. A material's rare-earth content alone does not establish an economical recovery route.1
Magnets in audio equipment and hard disk drives
Rare-earth magnet applications include speakers and hard disk drives. Audio equipment and electronics are possible sources of magnet-containing components, but the presence and composition of a magnet depend on the product's design. Product documentation or material characterization is needed to identify the specific magnet rather than assuming every audio device contains neodymium.2
Whether a motor holds a rare-earth magnet depends on its design
Some electric motor and generator designs use rare-earth permanent magnets; other designs do not. A motor's existence alone does not establish rare-earth content.3
Where it sits
| Device | Where the rare earths sits | How much |
|---|---|---|
| E-bike | Ring of magnets inside the hub | A real share |
| Hard disk drive | Pair of magnets beside each arm | A real share |
| Cordless drill | Four magnets on the rotor | A trace |
| Game console | Fan, disc drive and rumble magnets | A trace |
| Robot vacuum | Ring magnet in the suction fan | A trace |
| Flat-screen TV | Backlight phosphors, some speaker magnets | A trace |
| Smartwatch | Haptic, speaker and alignment magnets | A trace |
| Wireless earbuds | Driver, cradle and lid magnets | A trace |
| Headphones | Disc magnet in each driver | A trace |
| Laptop | Fan, speaker and lid magnets | A trace |
| Smartphone | Speaker, camera and haptic magnets | A trace |
| Enterprise server | Drive voice-coil magnets and fan motors | A trace |
How it is recovered
Recovery begins by getting the magnet out of the product whole, and continues by one of several routes for the rare earths inside it. How rare earths are recovered from magnets.
Sources
- Rare Earth RecyclingUS Department of Energy
- Rare Earth Elements—End Use and RecyclabilityUS Geological Survey, Magnets section and illustrated applications
- Rare Earth Permanent Magnets: Supply Chain Deep Dive AssessmentUS Department of Energy, Sections 2.2.4.2–2.2.4.3, printed page 19
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