Global Trend for Magnets
0
5000000
10000000
15000000
20000000
25000000
30000000
35000000
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
China
Germany
Japan
Others
UK
TOTAL MAGNET WEIGHT IMPORTED INTO THE US
0
20,000,000
40,000,000
60,000,000
80,000,000
100,000,000
120,000,000
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
TOTAL MAGNETS VALUE IMPORTED INTO THE US
China
Germany
Japan
Other
United Kingdom
4
Magnetic Materials Introduction
Ferrites Commonly known as Ceramics, have been in production since the
1950's. They are primarily made from Iron Oxide (FeO) and the addition of Sr
and Ba through a calcining process. They are the least expensive and most
common of all magnet materials. Primary grades are C1, C5 and C8. They are
mostly used in motors and sensors.
Alnico These are one of the oldest commercially available
magnets and have
been developed from earlier versions of magnetic steels. Primary composition is
Al, Ni and Co, hence the name. Although they have a high remanent induction,
they have relatively low magnetic values because of their easy of
demagnetization. However, they are resistant to heat and have good mechanical
features. Common applications are in measuring instruments and high
temperature processes such as holding devices in heat treat furnaces.
Samarium Cobalt They belong to the rare earth family because of the Sm and
Co elements in their composition. Magnetic properties are high and they have
very good temperature characteristics. They are also more expensive than the
other magnet materials. They come mostly in two grades: SmCo
5
and Sm
2
Co
17
,
also known as SmCo 1:5 and 2:17. Common uses are in aerospace, military and
medical industries.
Neodymium Also known as Neo, these are the strongest and most controversial
magnets. They are in the rare earth family because of the Nd, B, Dy, Ga
elements in their composition. A relatively new group of commercial magnets,
they are controversial because they are the only magnets that have been
patented for both composition and processing. The patent and licensing issues
are important and will be discussed later in this guide.
Bonded Magnets All of the above materials are available as bonded grades by
either extrusion, compression, calendaring or injection molding processes. The
magnetic properties are lower because they sometimes lose their anisotropy and
they are not fully dense due to the introduction of resins and epoxies. The main
advantage to this group is that they can be made in complex shapes and can be
insert, over-molded and co-molded with other materials.
5
Definitions of Terminology in Magnetics
Ag Area of the air gap
, or the cross sectional area of the air gap perpendicular to the flux
path, is the average cross sectional area of that portion of the air gap within which the application
interaction occurs, Area is measured in sq. cm. in a plane normal to the central flux line of the air
gap.
Am Area of the magnet
, is the cross sectional area of the magnet perpendicular to the
central flux line, measured in sq. cm. at any point along its length. In design, Am is usually
considered the area at the neutral section of the magnet.
B Magnetic induction
, is the magnetic field induced by a field strength, H, at a given point.
It is the vector sum, at each point within the substance, of the magnetic field strength and
resultant intrinsic induction. Magnetic induction is the flux per unit area normal to the direction of
the magnetic path.
Bd Remanent induction
, is any magnetic induction that remains in a magnetic material
after removal of an applied saturating magnetic field, Hs. (Bd is the magnetic induction at any
point on the demagnetization curve; measured in gauss.)
Bd/Hd Slope of the operating line
, is the ratio of the remanent induction, Bd, to a
demagnetizing force, Hd. It is also referred to as the permeance coefficient, shear line, load line
and unit permeance.
BdHd Energy product
, indicates the energy that a magnetic material can supply to an
external magnetic circuit when operating at any point on its demagnetization curve; measured in
megagauss-oersteds.
(BH)max Maximum energy product
, is the maximum product of (BdHd) which can be
obtained on the demagnetization curve.
Bis (or J) Saturation intrinsic induction
, is the maximum intrinsic induction possible in
a material.
Bg Magnetic induction in the air gap
, is the average value of magnetic induction over
the area of the air gap, Ag; or it is the magnetic induction measured at a specific point within the
air gap; measured in gauss.
Bi (or J) Intrinsic induction
, is the contribution of the magnetic material to the total
magnetic induction, B. It is the vector difference between the magnetic induction in the material
and the magnetic induction that would exist in a vacuum under the same field strength, H. This
relation is expressed by the equation:
Bi = B - H
Bi = intrinsic induction in gauss
B = magnetic induction in gauss
H = field strength in oersteds.
6