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Rare-earth Materials
Ames Laboratory and rare-earth materials have been closely tied together for much of the Lab's 63-year history. Ames Laboratory researchers pioneered the methods used to isolate and purify rare-earth materials. The Lab's Materials Preparation Center, a U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Materials Sciences & Engineering specialized research center, is recognized world-wide as THE source for ultra-high purity rare earth metal samples in laboratory scale quantities.
What are the rare-earths?
Rare-earth metals or elements typically include scandium (Sc-21), yttrium (Y-39) and the lanthanides — lanthanum (La-57), cerium (Ce-58), praseodymium (Pr-59), neodymium (Nd-60), promethium (Pm-61), samarium (Sm-62), europium (Eu-63), gadolinium (Gd-64), terbium (Tb-65), dysprosium (Dy-66), holmium (Ho-67), erbium (Er-68), thulium (Tm-69), ytterbium (Yb-70), and luteium (Lu-71).
When alloyed with other metals, the rare-earths can provide enhanced magnetic, strength and high temperature and other properties. For example, high-strength magnets made from neodymium-iron--boron have been used in a variety of products, including electric motors and hybrid cars components.
To find out more about rare-earth materials, check out the following links:
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