Hobbies And Interests
Ores
The highest concentrations of naturally occurring neodymium are found in bastnaesite, monazite and xenotime. Neodymium always occurs in conjunction with the rare-earth metal lanthanum, which is a pairing known as didymium. Neodymium-containing ores often also contain cesium, praseodymium, thorium and yttrium.
Magnets
Neodymium-iron-boron magnets produce strong magnetic fields without requiring heating or cooling, and the alloy magnets can be made quite small without sacrificing attractive power. Electronic devices in which one can find neodymium alloy magnets include medical imaging machines, security alarms and automatic locking systems, computer hard drives, televisions and generators. Neodymium-alloy magnets also have applications for magnetic therapy.
Welder's Goggles
The purple-to-red color for glass used in welding goggles comes from the addition of neodymium in the form of didymium. In addition to darkening the glass, adding neodymium also permits the treated glass to absorb large amounts of light without passing it through to a welder's eyes.
Lasers
Neodymium-treated glass can also be used to focus, or cohere, certain wavelengths of light. This property means neodymium can be found as an essential ingredient in both laser lenses and crystals. When used in laser crystals, neodymium is combined with yttrium, aluminum and garnet, and the device is known as a neodymium-YAG laser. According to the website Hyperphysics, neodymium glass lasers are the first choice for researchers looking to define the characteristics of nuclear fusion.
Enamels
Adding neodymium to enamel produces colors similar to those for welder's goggles.