Samarium oxide is widely used in the field of magnetic materials, primarily because it is a key raw material for manufacturing samarium-cobalt (SmCo) permanent magnets. Samarium-cobalt magnets were among the first rare-earth magnets to be applied industrially. They are known for their strong corrosion resistance and antioxidant properties. Their magnetic strength is second only to that of neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets. Both their magnetic saturation and magnetic induction intensity are higher than those of ferrite magnets, and they offer a wide operating temperature range. When the operating temperature exceeds 180°C, their temperature stability and chemical stability are superior to those of neodymium-iron-boron magnets.
Due to these properties, samarium-cobalt magnets are widely used in aerospace, national defense, military industry, and telecommunications, in components such as magnetic transmission devices, sensors, magnetic processors, and magnetic cranes. In civilian industries, they are also used in the manufacture of gyroscopes, small stator magnetic fields, and micro-motors, offering advantages such as higher electrode efficiency, greater torque, and reduced weight and volume.
Additionally, samarium-iron-nitrogen rare-earth permanent magnets, made primarily from samarium oxide, have a saturation magnetization comparable to that of bonded neodymium-iron-boron magnets. They also exhibit higher anisotropy and better corrosion resistance. These characteristics make them ideal for producing high-performance bonded magnets with superior temperature stability and environmental adaptability. Thanks to their excellent magnetic properties, they are also used in industries such as automotive and consumer electronics.