What are the uses of samarium?

The main applications are for magnets such as samarium cobalt magnets. Samarium cobalt magnets are expensive, but they are continuously used in sensors and other applications because of their excellent thermal stability at high temperatures.

What are the reserves of rare earths?

Rare earths are considered scarce because they are called “rare,” but there are more than 100 million tons of rare earths known to exist, and in recent years it has been discovered that an amount equivalent to several hundred years of global demand has been buried in the seabed near Japan.

What are the uses of rare earth magnet materials?

It is used in everything from household appliances, motors, generators, and magnetic disks to manufacturing sites.

What are the uses of samarium?

The main applications are for magnets such as samarium cobalt magnets. Samarium cobalt magnets are expensive, but they are continuously used in sensors and other applications because of their excellent thermal stability at high temperatures.

What are the reserves of rare earths?

Rare earths are considered scarce because they are called “rare,” but there are more than 100 million tons of rare earths known to exist, and in recent years it has been discovered that an amount equivalent to several hundred years of global demand has been buried in the seabed near Japan.

What are the uses of rare earth magnet materials?

It is used in everything from household appliances, motors, generators, and magnetic disks to manufacturing sites.

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X-MINING Magnetic Materials

Wellmax™ is made primarily of SmFeN (samarium-iron-nitrogen) magnets that use Sm, which is an abundant "rare-earth" element. Sumitomo Metal Mining manufactures and sells magnetic powders and compounds for injection molding as well as offers a variety of technical services.

Material Properties

図１

We are one of the few manufacturers worldwide that make and sell SmFeN magnetic materials for rare-earth bonded magnets that do not use neodymium (Nd). Typical magnetic characteristics are shown in Fig. 1.

Compared with isotropic NdFeB (neodymium-iron boron) bonded magnets, which are often used as rare-earth bonded magnets, our magnets have the following features.

"compared to Isotropic NdFeB compressed/injection molded bonded magnets"
1. 1.　Less risk of price fluctuations
2. 2.　Same or higher magnetic properties
3. 3.　Highly Resistant to rust (no paint required)

"compared to isotropic NdFeB compression-molded bonded magnets"
1. 1.　Low specific gravity (30% weight reduction in equivalent volume)
2. 2.　High degree of freedom of shape (complicated shapes and integral molding with shaft are possible)
3. 3.　Lowered conductivity (suppresses eddy current in the magnet)

Is there a rare-earth magnet with less price fluctuation risk? Rust-resistant Materials with Strong Magnetic Force

Improving Electric Motor Performance

What is Samarium?

Sm is a rare-earth element. The most popular material used with Sm is cobalt (SmCo).

While demand for Nd (neodymium) and Dy (dysprosium) is increasing, demand for Sm continues to be small.

Therefore, use of Sm leads to the efficient use of global resources.
When Nd and Dy are mined, Sm is also mined together with other rare-earth elements, so it remains an excess element in the process of obtaining Nd and Dy. Therefore, the use of Sm is expected to lead to the efficient use of global resources.

About the surge in the price of rare-earth magnets.

Magnetic Material Applications Such as EV Motors, and the Potential of Samarium-Iron-Nitrogen Magnetic Materials

Product Lineup

Product name	Magnetic Powder	Binder	Max. Magnetic Energy Product (kJ/m3(MGOe) Features	Characteristics
S1	SmFeN (Anisotropy)	（Magnetic Powder）	286～310（36～39）	・Average particle size 2～3μm diameter SFN fine particles Category 2 dangerous substances (flammable solid)
S3	SmFeN (Anisotropy)	PA12	80～111（10～14）	Magnetic compound of SmFeN alone (neodymium-free)
S4	SmFeN+Ferrite （Anisotropy）	PA12	24～56（3～7）	Hybrid compound with SmFeN and ferrite (neodymium-free) Magnetic properties equivalent or superior to those of ferrite magnets
S5	SmFeN+NdFeB （Anisotropy）	PA12	135～143（17～18）	Hybrid compound with anisotropic SmFeN and anisotropic NdFeB Bonded magnets with superior magnetic properties close to 20MGOe
S5P	SmFeN+NdFeB （Anisotropy）	PPS	80～103（10～13）	Highly heat-resistant PPS resin is used as binder

Registration form is below to download product catalogues.

Documents List

Applications

Wellmax™ SmFeN magnetic materials have more than 20 years of experience in familiar electric appliances such as air conditioners and washing machines. In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of motors in various applications, including automotive motors.

Our technical services

We provide magnetic field analysis simulations for magnet mold design so that our customers can effectively use anisotropic magnets and ensure that their products meet the required performance. We also provide advice on mold configurations to support the realization of our customers’ products. Examples include the use of magnetic and non-magnetic materials, magnet-related equipment (molding machines, magnetizing power supplies, etc.), and molding conditions.

Support for mold design with our simulation of magnetic field analysis

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the applications of Sm?

Main applications include SmCo (samarium-cobalt) magnets. SmCo magnets are expensive, but they are used continuously in sensors and other applications due to their excellent thermal stability at high temperatures.

How can “rare-earth” be an abundant resource?

As rare-earth is called “rare-earth,” it is often thought that the reserves are small, but as far as we know, there are over 100 million tons. In recent years, we have found that the seafloor near Japan has reserves equivalent to hundreds of years worth of world demand.

What is the application of rare-earth magnetic materials?

It is used in all kinds of appliances, including motors, generators, and magnetic disks. Because of its strong magnetic force, its use is increasing in products that require smaller size, lighter weight, and higher efficiency.

Product Lineup

1. There are SmFeN(SFN) magnet powder, injection-molded material mixed with 12 nylon (PA12) using SFN magnet powder and ferrite magnet powder, and injection molding materials mixed SFN magnet powder and 12 nylon (PA12). These are neodymium-free products. Injection molding materials are available in 1 to 2MGOe increments with maximum magnetic energy product of 23～111kJ/3 (3 to 14MGOe).
In addition, there are injection molding materials containing anisotropic neodymium iron boron magnet powder and SFN magnet powder, although they contain neodymium. They are injection molding materials having a maximum energy product of 135-143kJ/m3 (17-18MGOe) for PA12 resin based products and 95～103kJ/m3 (11～12MGOe) for polyphenylen sulfide (PPS) resin based products.
2. In addition to SFN materials, we also manufacture and sell injection molding materials using isotropic neodymium magnet powder by in-house kneading.

Type	Magnet Powder	Directional Property	Binder Resin	Maximum Energy Product※	Characteristics
S1	SmFeN	Anisotropic	(Magnet Powder)	286～310(36～39)	SFN fine particles with an average particle size of 2 to 3μm. Category 2 hazardous materials (flammable solids)
S3	SmFeN		PA12	80～111(10～14)	Magnetic compound of SmFeN alone. By changing the blending ratio of the magnet powder and the binder resin, Optimal magnetic properties can be selected.
S4	SmFeN+Ferrite		PA12	24～56(3～7)	This is a hybrid compound with “SmFeN + ferrite. Higher magnetic properties than ferrite injection make use of the advantages of injection molding.
S5	SmFeN+NdFeB		PA12	135～143(17～18)	This is a hybrid compound with “SmFeN + anisotropic NdFeB. It exhibits higher magnetic properties than S3.
S5P	SmFeN+NdFeB		PPS	80～103(10～13)	This is a hybrid compound with “SmFeN + anisotropic NdFeB. PPS resin with high heat resistance is used as a binder.

※kJ/m³(MGOe)

Photographs of Wellmax

SMM's support for orientation design by using magnetic field analysis simulation

We support our customer's product development by using magnetic field analysis software,
aiming to shorten development time and reduce cost.

X-MINING Magnetic Materials

Prevent abrasion

Prevent rust

Enhance magnetic force

Reduce the risk

Reduce human assembly

More packing

Material Properties

Related Documents

Wellmax™

Wellmax™-S1

Wellmax™-S3 Series

Wellmax™-S4 Series

Wellmax™-S5B Series

Wellmax™-S5P Series

What is Samarium?

Product Lineup

Applications

Our technical services

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the applications of Sm?

How can “rare-earth” be an abundant resource?

What is the application of rare-earth magnetic materials?

Product Lineup

Photographs of Wellmax

SMM's support for orientation design by using magnetic field analysis simulation

Related Documents

Wellmax™

Wellmax™-S1

Wellmax™-S3 Series

Wellmax™-S4 Series

Wellmax™-S5B Series

Wellmax™-S5P Series

Take part in X-MINING Contact Us

Solutions

Improving Electric Motor Performance

Enhance Magnetic Force with No Additional Cost

Is there a rare-earth magnet with less price fluctuation risk?

Rust-Resistant Materials with Strong Magnetic Force

Magnetic Material That Prevents Mold Abrasion

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