Magnetism in Europe
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Magnetism in Europe I.V. Mitchell Introduction The rime has long since passed when it seemed that the only uses of permanent magnets were as compass needles to guide lost travelers or as a means to keep refrigerator doors firmly closed. Major developments in materials science over the years hâve widened the scope of applications to include such devices as small electric motors, loudspeakers, sensors, and actuators. Nevertheless, in most cases, the electromagnet reigned suprême and continued to be used for most of the applications where a magnetic field was required. However, during the past 20 years a mini-revolution occurred with the development of new alloys based on samarium and cobalt (Sm-Co). The opportunities provided by this new génération of permanent magnets re-ignited the fires of compétition and forced equipment manufacturers to take a fresh look at their products. Unfortunately, at just about the same time that Sm-Co magnets were to be applied, the world supply of cobalt proved to be unreliable. Prices escalated rapidly and magnet users were left in a quandary. Manufacturers were understandably reluctant to commit themselves to incorporating the new high performance magnets into their products because they were wary of shortages and uncontrollable price fluctuations in the raw materials. In response to this situation, the Commission of the European Communities (CEC) included cobalt substitution for permanent magnets in a program of research aimed at finding suitable materials to replace scarce and stratégie raw materials. But, in late 1983, it was to be Sumitomo Spécial Metals Co. and General Motors Corp. which announced the breakthrough discovery of a remarkable new alloy based on neodymium, iron, and boron (Nd-Fe-B) that exhibited astonishing magnetic properties and set new standards for permanent magnet performance. 54
This opened up the prospect of cheap, high performance magnets which could find many kinds of applications — in various types of motors and generators, actuators, sensors, scanners, synchrotrons, and even magnetically levitated transportation Systems. Fully alert to the discovery of thèse "supermagnets," the CEC organized the first European workshop on "Nd-Fe Permanent Magnets: Their Présent and Future Applications" in Brussels on October 25, 1984 and, as a direct conséquence of the meeting, a plan of action was drawn up with a strong recommendation for a concerted European response in this field. At the same time, the Commission encouraged a small group of researchers to band together to prépare a detailed scientific proposai for a spécifie program of research. Their program proposai was submitted to the European Commission where it received the unanimous approval of its advisory committee for science and technology (CODEST). In a little less than a year from the date of the workshop, Community funding was fortheoming from the program for a major coUaborative research project on permanent magnets, and thus the Concerted European Action on Magnets (CEAM) was born. The scientific manag
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