Vo,
Once wire can be fabricated from Ultraconductors(tm), it may prove possible
to make permanent magnets using pure polymer materials.
This will depend on the ability of a loop made of Ultraconductors to sustain
a persistant current, as does a superconductor.
Thus far, they have shown several characteristics only found in
superconductors:
A Critical Current
Zero resistance as measured by tests at the world famous Ioffe Institute in
St. Petersburg, Russia.
Violation of the Weidemann-Franz law by at least six orders of magnitude.
etc., etc.
They have also demonstrated, at the Bar Ilan University in Israel, the
ability to withstand magnetic fields as high as 9 Tesla, with no loss of
conductivity.
However, wire is still several million dollars and at least two years ahead
of us. Not sure if increased funding would help, as part of the problem is
similar to pregnancy in terms of accelerating the process.
If persistant currents are produced, polymer permanent magnets may become a
major alternative with great savings of weight, as well as cost.
The raw materials are atactic ploymers. Unlike isotactic polymers which
have strength, the atactic is amorphous material, often considered a waste
product, sometimes constituting 5% of the polymer produced.
Mark
Magnetic Power Inc.
Room Temperature Superconductors Inc. (a subsidiary) See:
www.ultraconductors.com
From: "OrionWorks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Vo]: China's Neodymium monopoly is being felt
Date: Fri, 01 Dec 2006 16:51:25 -0600
FYI,
It's my understanding that the Chinese government has recently increased
the price of raw materials to all magnet manufacturers by 60%. This
presumably includes the rare-earth material, NEODYMIUM.
As previously mentioned on this discussion group the Chinese government
quietly and methodically went about the business of purchasing all the
mining operations for these kinds of rare-earth elements everywhere on the
planet. They now own the whole shebang - everything. They maintain a total
monopoly on these kinds of rare-earth supplies.
And whadaya know! Suddenly they've decided to increase prices by 60
percent.
I maintain a suspicion that rare earth materials, particularly Neodymium,
are going to start playing an ever increasing vital role in the development
of this planet's AE resources. China stands to make a tidy profit from
their shrewd and complete takeover of this market.
And the rest of us will be paying, literally, for our lack of foresight.
Regards,
Steven Vincent Johnson
www.OrionWorks.com
