What Is a Rare Earth Magnet?

Most people interact with rare earth magnets dozens of times each day without realizing it. They’re hidden inside your smartphone, help guide aircraft through the sky, enable precise semiconductor manufacturing, and even power life-saving medical equipment. These small but mighty components are the foundation of modern innovation — and Permag™ is proud to be part of the force behind them. 

Permag delivers end-to-end magnetic expertise — from raw material development to precision assemblies. But before diving into how these magnets shape our world, it helps to understand what makes a “rare earth magnet” truly rare. 

What Makes a Magnet “Rare Earth”? 

Rare earth magnets are permanent magnets made from elements in the lanthanide series of the periodic table, along with scandium and yttrium. Despite their name, these elements aren’t actually scarce — they’re simply difficult to extract and refine, which historically limited availability.  

Two materials dominate rare earth magnet technology today: 

• Neodymium Iron Boron (NdFeB): The strongest commercially available magnet, prized for high magnetic strength and energy density.

  

• Samarium Cobalt (SmCo): Known for its exceptional thermal stability, corrosion resistance, and magnetic reliability in extreme. 

Each material offers unique advantages, which is why Permag’s engineers select and design with precision — ensuring the right material aligns with every application’s performance, environmental, and regulatory demands. 

Strength of a Rare Earth Magnet 

Rare earth magnets outperform conventional materials like ferrite or Alnico because of their atomic structure. The unpaired electrons in rare earth elements align strongly within their crystal lattice, creating powerful magnetic fields and high coercivity — the ability to resist demagnetization. 

This means rare earth magnets maintain strength under stress, vibration, and heat — even when exposed to the most demanding conditions. For example, Samarium Cobalt magnets can perform reliably above 300°C, while Neodymium magnets deliver unmatched force in compact designs. 

Compared to standard magnetic materials, rare earth magnets provide: 

• Up to 10x greater strength per unit volume. 

• Superior temperature stability. 

• High energy product for compact designs. 

Where Rare Earth Magnets Are Used 

From advanced defense systems to medical imaging, rare earth magnets are at the heart of critical technologies: 

• Semiconductors: Precision motion control, wafer handling, and ion implantation. 

• Aerospace & Defense: Missile guidance, radar systems, propulsion, and fin actuation. 

• Medical: MRI-safe implants, robotic surgical systems, and diagnostic instruments. 

• Energy & Hydrogen: Submersible pumps, flowmeters, and high-efficiency generators. 

As a vertically integrated magnetics partner, Permag supports each of these industries through design collaboration, prototyping, and scalable manufacturing. Through EEC, Permag is also the only U.S. producer of Samarium Cobalt, ensuring DFARS compliance and reliable domestic sourcing. 

Rare Earth Supply Chain

Global demand for rare earth materials continues to rise, yet sourcing remains concentrated in limited regions. This has created both supply chain risk and opportunity for companies seeking non-China, DFARS-compliant solutions. 

Permag leads that charge — strengthening North American and European supply lines while expanding U.S. Samarium Cobalt production capacity. Our materials and assemblies help customers meet performance and compliance goals while supporting secure, sustainable manufacturing ecosystems. 

Why It Matters: The Future of Magnetics 

As industries accelerate toward electric mobility, AI-driven automation, and space exploration, the world’s reliance on rare earth magnets will only deepen. These materials aren’t just components — they’re catalysts for innovation, enabling smaller, faster, smarter, and more efficient technologies. 

At Permag, we believe understanding the science behind magnetics is key to shaping a stronger, more sustainable future. Whether you’re developing a next-generation defense system or a breakthrough medical device, our expertise in rare earth magnet materials and assemblies ensures your technology performs — every time.