Rare earths, known as the "treasure trove" of new materials, as a special functional material, can greatly improve the quality and performance of other products, and are known as the "vitamins" of modern industry. They are not only widely used in traditional industries such as metallurgy, petrochemicals, glass ceramics, wool spinning, leather, and agriculture, but also play an indispensable role in materials such as fluorescence, magnetism, laser, fiber optic communication, hydrogen storage energy, superconductivity, etc, It directly affects the speed and level of development of emerging high-tech industries such as optical instruments, electronics, aerospace, and nuclear industry. These technologies have been successfully applied in military technology, greatly promoting the development of modern military technology.
The special role played by rare earth new materials in modern military technology has attracted high attention from governments and experts of various countries, such as being listed as a key element in the development of high-tech industries and military technology by relevant departments of countries such as the United States and Japan.
A Brief Introduction to Rare Earths and Their Relationship with Military and National Defense
Strictly speaking, all rare earth elements have certain military applications, but the most critical role they play in national defense and military fields should be in applications such as laser ranging, laser guidance, and laser communication.
The application of rare earth steel and rare earth ductile iron in modern military technology
1.1 Application of Rare Earth Steel in Modern Military Technology
The function includes two aspects: purification and alloying, mainly desulfurization, deoxidation, and gas removal, eliminating the influence of low melting point harmful impurities, refining grain and structure, affecting the phase transition point of steel, and improving its hardenability and mechanical properties. Military science and technology personnel have developed many rare earth materials suitable for use in weapons by utilizing the properties of rare earth.
1.1.1 Armor steel
As early as the early 1960s, China's weapons industry began to research the application of rare earths in armor steel and gun steel, and successively produced rare earth armor steel such as 601, 603, and 623, ushering in a new era of key raw materials for tank production in China based on domestic production.
1.1.2 Rare earth carbon steel
In the mid-1960s, China added 0.05% rare earth elements to a certain high-quality carbon steel to produce rare earth carbon steel. The lateral impact value of this rare earth steel is increased by 70% to 100% compared to the original carbon steel, and the impact value at -40 ℃ is nearly doubled. The large-diameter cartridge case made of this steel has been proven through shooting tests in the shooting range to fully meet technical requirements. Currently, China has finalized and put it into production, realizing China's long-standing wish of replacing copper with steel in cartridge material.
1.1.3 Rare earth high manganese steel and rare earth cast steel
Rare earth high manganese steel is used to manufacture tank track plates, while rare earth cast steel is used to manufacture tail wings, muzzle brakes, and artillery structural components for high-speed shell piercing shells. This can reduce processing steps, improve steel utilization, and achieve tactical and technical indicators.
1.2 Application of Rare Earth Nodular Cast Iron in Modern Military Technology
