neodymowe

Neodymowe is the Polish term used for neodymium and for materials that contain this element, most notably neodymium magnets. In everyday usage the adjective is attached to magnets (magnesy neodymowe) and to compounds or equipment in which neodymium plays a key role, such as laser media and certain glass colors. The term thus covers both the element itself and its common applications.

Neodymium (Nd) is a chemical element in the lanthanide series, with atomic number 60. It is a soft, silvery metal that tarnishes in air and reacts with water. In nature neodymium occurs only in compounds and is recovered from rare earth minerals, particularly monazite and bastnäsite. Industrial production typically involves processing these minerals to obtain Nd-containing oxides, which are then refined to supply the metal or salts used in further applications. The most stable oxidation state of neodymium in compounds is +3.

A major area of neodymium use is in strong permanent magnets, especially neodymium-iron-boron magnets (NdFeB). These magnets, developed in the 1980s, offer high energy density and are widely employed in compact motors, hard disk drives, wind turbines, and consumer electronics. They require protective coatings to resist corrosion and can demagnetize at high temperatures or under strong external fields.

Another important use is in neodymium-doped laser systems, particularly Nd:YAG lasers, where neodymium ions in a yttrium aluminum garnet host emit light near 1064 nanometers. Such lasers are common in industry, medicine, and research, and can be diode- or flash-lamp-pumped.

Safety and environmental considerations include the handling of rare earth concentrates and the management of wastes from mining and processing.

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