What drives samarium demand beyond traditional samarium-cobalt magnets?

What drives samarium demand beyond traditional samarium-cobalt magnets?
Samarium's applications extend well beyond its well-known role in samarium-cobalt permanent magnets, which withstand temperatures above 300°C and are critical for fighter jets, missile guidance, nuclear reactors, and aerospace. The element also serves in ceramic capacitors, catalysts, and as structural, shielding, and control materials in atomic reactors. Its nuclear properties make it valuable for safely harnessing fission energy. While samarium-cobalt magnets were the first industrially applied rare earth magnets, today's demand is increasingly tied to defense and high-temperature industrial applications where neodymium magnets fail. Japan's annual consumption of roughly 80 tonnes highlights its niche but strategic importance. As Western nations rebuild domestic rare earth supply chains, samarium's role in military and energy infrastructure positions it as a priority material, even though its market volume is far smaller than neodymium-praseodymium.