表1 2010年世界各国已探明的稀土矿储量和该年度的大致产量 Table 1. 2010 World Mine Production and Reserves
注：2010年美国未开采本国的稀土矿产，所用的稀土矿、稀土金属和合金92%自中国进口，其余的自其它国家进口。 Note: U.S. reserves represent imports, 92% of which were imported from China.
1960, the country’s metalcasters began using rare earth ferro- silicon magnesium alloys as a spheroidizing agent. Later, the material became widely used in this application. Its uses were expanded, and its quality was improved. Currently, China’s annual production of ductile iron cast- ings is 8.7 million tons, 43% of the total world output. Most are treated with rare earth ferrosilicon magnesium alloys.
The Problem According to the Japan Foundry Society, the Japanese
metalcasting industry requires 1,000 tons of rare earth metals each year, almost all of which is imported from China. The consumption of rare earth metals by the Chinese foundry industry is more than 8,000 tons per year, according to China Foundry Association estimates. This consumption is a substantial quantity compared to China’s rare earth reserves. Rare earth metals have unique optical, electrical and magnetic properties that make them important in functional materials. For example: • Rare earth metals showing the strongest magnetism are widely used for automobiles, computers, automatic com- ponents, and aerospace and military equipment.
• Nickel-hydrogen battery cells with rare earth metals have gained wide application.
• Optical material with rare earth metals is important for color televisions, displays and energy-saving lights.
• Laser material made with rare earth metals has been widely used for optical communication, precision pro- cessing, and medical and military applications, among other things. In the past, some Chinese mining operations treated
rare earth metals improperly, mining them on a mas- sive scale and exporting the products cheaply. In recent years, China has begun to protect its rare earth resources by enhancing innovation, technological progress and sustainable development. Since 2007, China has imple- mented instructive production plans for rare earth resources and gradually reduced its export quota. In 2011, resource and export taxes have slightly increased. In February, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao
量、该年度稀土矿物的产量见表1。
1950年代初期，我国就着手对稀土资源进行勘探、 研究开发和推广应用。1960年左右，我国自行研发了 稀土镁硅铁合金，用作球墨铸铁的球化剂。此后，这种 球化剂的应用迅速推广，为适用于不同的生产条件，其 品种逐渐增多，质量也不断改善。目前，我国各类球墨 铸铁件的年产量为870万t，约占全世界球墨铸铁件总产 量的43%，其中，绝大部分都是用稀土镁硅铁合金作球 化剂生产的。
一．问题的提出
据日本铸造协会的测算，日本铸造行业每年稀土金属 的用量约1,000t，基本上全部自中国进口。按照铸件产 量所作的粗略估算，我国铸造行业每年需用的稀土金属 当不下8,000t，对于这种就全世界而言属于资源稀缺的 材料，数量是相当可观的。
稀土金属，除广泛用于基础产业的各种材料外，还具 有特殊的光、电、磁性能，是研发多种新型功能材料不 可或缺的要素，例如：
◆ 含稀土的永磁材料，是当前磁性最强的，已用于汽 车、计算机、自动化组件、航空航天和军工设备； ◆ 稀土镍氢电池的用途日见广泛；
◆ 稀土发光材料是彩色电视、各种显示器和节能灯不可 缺少的；
◆ 稀土激光材料已广泛用于光通信、精密加工、医疗和 军工等方面。
看来，以前我们对待稀土，有点太偏重于其“土”的 一面，大量开采，大量廉价出口，而忽视了前面一个重 要的“稀”字，把人参当作了胡萝卜。
近年来，随着科学技术的进步和可持续发展观念的增 强，我国已逐步加强对稀土资源的保护。从2007年起， 我国开始对稀土的生产实行指令性规划，并逐年减少出
Fall 2011
FOUNDRY-PLANET.COM | MODERN CASTING | CHINA FOUNDRY ASSOCIATION | 39
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