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[Ted Dillard]

I think of all the stuff I learned putting the book together, the bits on motor (and magnet) development were some of the most interesting, and told the most about how tech development actually happens.  For example, do you know how those "rare earth magnets", specifically Neodymium-Iron-Cobalt were, well, "discovered"?  Would you believe it went hand in hand with GM and the Corvette? 

I posted the Motor History chapter excerpt on the blog, for your enjoyment: https://evmc2.wordpress.com/2017/08/13/power-in-flux-excerpt-motor-history/

[MrDude_1]

Would you believe it went hand in hand with GM and the Corvette? 

well,  this is all new to me, but I would believe that.
I already know how GM and Corvette R&D are responsible for advances like ferrofluid, aerogel mass production, ceramic brake rotor mass production, countless composite advances, and relentless engine design refinement. Its shocking how much new tech comes from this one area of GM.

[Ted Dillard]

It's weirder than that:

GM was working with Sumitomo Special Metals, to develop a more powerful rare-earth magnet for their starters. On one particular occasion, when they asked for a mix of Neodymium and Iron, the result was a batch with remarkably good qualities, well beyond expectations. Trying to determine the reason for this kind of unexpected performance, they stumbled on the cause. Apparently the technicians used a crucible that hadn’t been cleaned properly. The batch had been contaminated with traces of Cobalt from a previous job, resulting in a Neodymium-Iron-Cobalt mix and an astoundingly strong magnet. A patent was granted the Chinese company and lasted well into the early years of the 2000s.