Introduction of Rare Earth Resources

With the deep integration of artificial intelligence and high-end manufacturing, rare earth permanent magnets have achieved a significant leap in efficiency in driving the core components of intelligent equipment. Rare earth elements, comprising a total of 17 metallic elements including the lanthanides, scandium, and yttrium, are strategically categorized into light rare earths and medium-heavy rare earths based on atomic weight differences. Their compounds play an irreplaceable role in cutting-edge fields such as new energy power systems and precision transmission in robotics, while also supporting the development of metamaterials for national defense equipment like missile inertial navigation systems and satellite payload components.

Light rare earths

Lanthanum (La), Cerium (Ce), Praseodymium (Pr), Neodymium (Nd), Promethium (Pm)

Medium and heavy rare earths

Samarium (Sm), Europium (Eu), Gadolinium (Gd), Terbium (Tb), Dysprosium (Dy), Holmium (Ho), Erbium (Er), Thulium (Tm), Ytterbium (Yb), Lutetium (Lu), Scandium (Sc), Yttrium (Y)

Prospects of the rare earth industry chain

The rare earth industry chain spans the entire process from raw ore mining to end applications, serving as a core support for upgrading strategic industries such as the new generation of information technology and high-end equipment manufacturing. In the context of increasingly fierce international resource competition, secondary resource recycling has become an important way to ensure supply chain resilience and promote green transformation.

Mining and beneficiation

Smelting and separation

Material preparation

End applications

Recycling

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Main sources of rare earth secondary resources

PART1   Rare earth molten salt slag (RE-MSS)

In the context of the current transformation of the rare earth industry towards high-end and refined processes, rare earth molten salt (RE-MS) electrolysis technology has become a key technology in the field of rare earth smelting due to its advantages in efficiently producing rare earth metals. It provides significant support for the development of cutting-edge industries such as new energy vehicles and semiconductors. However, the generation of rare earth molten salt slag (RE-MSS) is unavoidable due to factors such as electrode reactions and temperature fluctuations during the electrolysis process. Although the concentration of rare earth elements in this type of molten salt slag is relatively low, the total amount is substantial. Through effective recycling and treatment, a large number of rare earth elements can still be extracted, achieving resource recycling and further promoting the sustainable development of the rare earth industry.

PART2   Neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) waste

The "magnetic elements" such as neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium in the rare earth family are becoming the strategic core of the green revolution. The neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnet materials synthesized from these elements, have become the "core components" of electric motors for new energy vehicles and wind turbines.
With the rapid development of the global new energy industry, a large wave of magnetic material waste is about to occur. How to efficiently extract strategic resources from these "invisible gold mines" will become a key decisive factor in the second half of the competition in the rare earth industry.

Single vehicle usage: 2-3 kg

Single machine usage: 1-1.5 tons

01 Raw Material Preparation
02 Melting and Casting
03 Crushing and Grinding
04 Orientation and Pressing
05 Sintering and Tempering
06 Machining
07 Surface Treatment
08 Finished Product Inspection
09 Finished Product Scrapping

The generation of neodymium-iron-boron waste

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Application of rare earth materials

MILITARY

Rare earths are known as "industrial gold", allowing them to combine with other materials to form a variety of new materials with different performances.

METALLURGICAL INDUSTRY

The addition of rare earth metals or fluorides and silicides to steel can refine, desulfurize, and neutralize low melting point harmful impurities, while also improving the processing performance of steel.

PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY

Molecular sieve catalysts made from rare earths have replaced aluminosilicate catalysts in the petroleum catalytic cracking process.

GLASS AND CERAMICS

Rare earth oxides or processed rare earth concentrates can be widely used as polishing powders for optical glass, lenses, cathode ray tubes, oscilloscopes, flat glass, plastics, and metal tableware.

NEW MATERIALS

Rare earth cobalt and neo­dymium-iron-boron permanent magnetic materials are widely used in the electronics and aerospace industries. Pure rare earth oxides and iron(III) oxide can be used in microwave and electronic industries.

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Rare earth resource recycling process

Raw material input

Oxidative roasting

Grinding

Hydrochloric acid leaching

Impurity removal

Extraction

Oxide solution

Precipitation

Calcination

Successfully obtained

INTEGRATED GRINDING SOLUTIONS FOR RARE EARTH MATERIALS

SBM was established in 1987 and has been deeply rooted in the grinding industry for nearly four decades, providing customers with professional complete solutions for powder processing. SBM offers grinding equipment and services ranging from single machines to complete systems, specializing in the entire process of mineral processing.

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Raw Material Test

1

Project Design

2

Device Manufacturing

3

Installation

4

Debugging

5

Technical Training

6

Reaching Designed Capacity

7

After-sale Service

8

Selection of grinding equipment

LM Series Vertical Roller Mill

Product fineness: 20-400 mesh (0.84-0.038 mm)

  • Simple operation and reliable performance
  • Low energy consumption and minimal wear
  • High grinding efficiency and superior product quality
  • Negative pressure operation, environmentally friendly
  • High drying efficiency with automatic slag discharge
  • Small footprint and low investment cost

MTW Series European Version Trapezium Mill

Product fineness: 12-325mesh (1.6-0.045mm)

  • Simple operation and reliable performance
  • Stable operation with bevel gear drive
  • Less prone to material blockage, high selection efficiency
  • Economical investment and environmentally friendly
  • Easy maintenance and low operating costs
  • Integrated comprehensive solutions
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Customer Cases

NdFeB Powder Making Project in Philippines

Processing Material: Neodymium-Iron-Boron

Output Size: 200mesh

Equipment: MTW Series Trapezium Mill

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80,000TPY Molten Salt Slag Grinding Production Line

Processing Material: Molten Salt Slag

Output Size: 325mesh

Main Equipment: LM Vertical Roller Mill

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