Slide 1

Rare Earth Materials

Date: February 24, 2011 To: Columbus Metropolitan Club

Presented By: Kimberly GibsonDirector, EWI Energy Center

Introduction – Importance and Uses of Rare Earth Materials

Slide 2

Rare Earths – What Are They?

15 rather obscure metals, the “lanthanides” plus scandium and yttrium, which have very beneficial magnetic and optical properties when added in small amounts to other materials.

Slide 3

Neodymium (Nd)Neodymium in strong magnets makes possible:

Cell phonesPortable CD playersLaptop hard drives

ABS brakesAir bagsMRIs

Slide 4

Lanthanum (La) and Dysprosium (Dy)

Lanthanum makes rechargeable nickel metal hybrid (NiMH) batteriesfor hybrid vehicles possible.

Dysprosium enables more efficient wind turbine generators and regenerative braking systems for hybrid cars.

Slide 5

Europium (Eu) and Yttrium (Y)

Europium is essential as the red phosphor for plasma color televisions and adds proper color for compact fluorescent bulbs.

Yttrium is used in oxygen sensors to make your car burn fuel efficiently and in microwave satellite communications.

Plasma TVs CFL bulbsOxygen sensors Satellite communications

Slide 6

UsesAdd Text

Slide 7

Wind Turbines

For 1 MW turbine, about 560 lb of neodymium and 31 lb of dysprosiumused in the generator (high strength Nd2Fe14B magnets)

Dysprosium added to Nd2Fe14B magnets to maintain magnetic performance as generator temperature rises in service.

Slide 8

Automotive - Toyota Prius

Neodymium and Dysprosium Magnets in Regenerative Braking

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Military Uses - Widespread

Missile guidance systems, lasers, and smart bombs;Sonar and underwater mine detection;Radar and antimissile defense;Laser range finders and targeting, including lasers; andSatellite power and communication systems.

Ultra high strength magnets, actuators, and lasers

Terbium & Dysprosium together as Terfenol-D alloy used extensively in U.S. Defense applications.

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DOE Criticality Matrix - 2010Add Text

Ref [1, p. 4]

Continuing concerns for high strength magnets and military uses (Terfenol-D)

Immediate concern for high strength magnets (dysprosium) and military uses (Terfenol-D)

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Supply and Demand

Ref [16, p. 80]

2004 - China production was meeting global demand.

2008 – Global demand begins to exceed China production; China demand growing rapidly

2014 – Global demand outpaces China production; China internal demand growing very rapidly

Concern

China restriction of exports and delays in development of other sources may not meet global demand by a large margin

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Comparison - U.S. and China RE Ores

Chinese ore richer in key heavy rare earths, dysprosium and terbium.

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Global RE ProjectsRef [6, p.74]

• Numerous known rare earth reserves, including heavy rare earths,

• Molycorp and Australian Lynas and Arafura projects closest to coming on-line,

• Infrastructure to bring others on line may require 7-10 years and $500 million to $2.3 billion each. Most in difficult areas to develop.

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China Rare Earth Mining

A laborer works at the site of a rare earth metals mine at Nancheng county, Jiangxi province.

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WasteOne Ton Rare Earths 9,600-12,000 cubic meters waste gas

Fluorine - 8.5 kgHydrofluoric acidSulfur dioxideSulfuric acid

75 cubic meters acidic wastewater1 ton radioactive waste residue containing water2,000 tons mine tailings, often containing thorium

6-mile-wide lake of toxic waste at Baotou, China, which as been dumped by the rare earth processing plants in the background

Total of 10 million tons wastewater discharged per year, mostly untreated

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What Should Be Done?

Consumers Industry

GovernmentPolicies & Labs

Investors

Rare Earth Producers

Nonprofits and Academia

Need an Integrated and Well-Coordinated Approach from All Stakeholders

Strategic National and International Cooperation

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What Should Be Done?

Consumers Industry

GovernmentPolicies & Labs

Investors

Rare Earth Producers

Nonprofits and Academia

Need an Integrated and Well-Coordinated Approach from All Stakeholders

Strategic National and International Cooperation

Focused R&D

SubstitutesImproved Production

RecyclingInnovative Materials

Methods to Reduce Use

Best Use of Strategic Resources

Alternative DesignsInnovative ProductsSustainability Focus

Design for Disassembly

Awareness

EducationRecycling

Buy Green/SustainableConcern for National Issues

Self-Reliance

Facilitate Domestic ProductionEnvironmentally Responsible

Efficient Production TechnologyU.S. Government Strategy and Policies

Emphasize IntegrationProvide Economic SupportInternational Coordination

Sustain Effort for Long-TermDrive for Self-Reliance and Jobs Creation

Slide 18

THANK YOU

Slide 19

• Introduction – The Importance of Rare Earth Materials and Uses by Element

• Key Industrial Uses

• Key Military Uses

• China’s Role and Emerging Sources

• Opportunities and Needs