LAUSR

Abstract The rare-earth metals, as academician A.E. Fersman aptly put it, have been called ‘the vitamins of industry’. Over the past 80 years since their practical study has begun, these metals have become not just ‘vitamins’ but true ‘vital preparations’ without which it is difficult to imagine any branch of modern production. The scientific community has published hundreds of papers since 1937 on the unique magnetic properties of rare-earth metals (REM), as well as methods of manufacturing samples. Until now, the influence of chemical purity on the properties of REM has received relatively little attention. This work aims to eliminate this shortcoming and identify the main mechanisms of the influence of impurities on the properties of REM, as well as to suggest ways of their detailed analysis and study.