compounding

Compounding is a process that involves mixing various raw materials together according to a specific recipe. This is often the initial step in plastic fabrication, where plastic resins are combined with other ingredients like pigments, stabilizers, or reinforcements. The goal is to create a new, larger whole by combining these elements.12

In the realm of rare-earth elements, compounding leads to the creation of materials with unique properties. A notable example is Nd₂Fe₁₄B, a ferromagnetic compound used to create the hardest known magnetic material. This compound is crucial for permanent magnets found in electric motors, computer hard drives, cell phones, and wind turbines.3