Magnet Materials
Materials Typical
Shapes
Pro
Con
Cast Alnico
AlNiCo
Rods, Bars, U shape
and other cast type
High Br
High working T
Good T coef.
Very Low Hc
High cost
High L/D
Requires Cast
Sintered Alnico
AlNiCo
Powder pressed to
shape
Complex
shapes
High Br, T
Requires Tool
High cost
Low market
Ceramic/Ferrite
SrFe
2
O
3
Blocks, Rings, Arcs,
Discs
Most flux for $
High usage
Low corrosion
Low Br
Requires tool
Simple shapes
Samarium
Cobalt
SmCo
Blocks, Rings, Discs
Arcs, Segments
No corrosion
Very low T coef
Stable, No tool
Very expensive
Simple shapes
High Co content
Neodymium
NdFeB
Blocks, Rings, Discs
Arcs, Segments
Highest
magnetic
properties
No tooling
Corrodes
Low working T
Difficult to Mag
Bonded Grades
All materials
Difficult geometries
Can be insert molded
or overmolded
Complex
shapes
Various resins
High toolings
Low magnetics
High volumes
There are other magnet materials which are used much less frequently:
•
Manganese Aluminum Carbon
•
Iron Chrome Cobalt
•
Cunife
•
Wire drawn Alnico
•
HDDR type Neo
•
Extruded Neo
•
Platinum Iron Neo
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Highest Properties of Each Magnetic Material
Material Br Hc
Hci (BH)max
∆
Br/
∆
T
SrFe
2
O
3
4000 3600 4100
4.0
-.18
Alnico 5
12700 640
650
5.5
-.02
Alnico 9
10500 1500
1520
10.5
-.02
SmCo
5
10000 9500 12500 24.0
-.03
Sm
2
Co
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11300 8000 >9000 28.0
-.03
NdFeB
14250 11500 >12000 50.0
-.11
NdFeB (UH)
11900 10300 >25000 42.0
-.11
MnAlC
5500 2500 >2500 5.5
-.11
•
These materials do not include bonded types
•
The greatest advances in magnetics are being done in the area of Neo
•
Neo is becoming stronger and with a higher working temperature
•
New methods of manufacturing are being developed
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Manufacturing Processes
Depending on the type of material, the following processes are used to
manufacture permanent magnets:
Sintering The sintering process involves compacting fine powders at high
pressures in an aligning magnetic field, then sintering it into a solid shape. After
sintering, the “ingot” is rough and must be machined to achieve close tolerances.
The complexity of shapes that can be pressed using this process is limited.
Neodymium and Samarium cobalt powders are compressed to form magnets by:
•
Isostatic pressing The powder is compacted with the same force from
all directions. These magnets have the highest possible magnetic values
because of the higher density achieved using this technique.
•
Compressing in tools:
1. Transverse Field Pressing. The powder is compacted at right
angles to the magnetic flux. These magnets have a weaker field
compared to the isostatic pressed ones, but stronger compared to
the parallel pressed magnets.
2. Parallel Compressing. The powder is compacted parallel to the
magnetic field.
Compression Molding This method is commonly used to make
NdFeB magnets using melt spun Nd powders that are epoxy
coated. The powders are compacted and then heat cured for the
epoxy to perform the binding function. These magnets are typically
isotropic.
Injection Molding Neodymium,
Samarium Cobalt, and Ferrite
Materials can be manufactured by injection molding. Common
binders for injection molding are polyamides. The advantage of
using this method is the possibility to get a better tolerance
directly from the tool with no required heat treatment, and the
magnets can be produced in complex shapes. They can be
combined with other materials for over-molding or insert molding.
Casting This process is used for manufacturing Alnico. Process is similar to the
casting of other metals. Parts are formed in sand casts which can be complex.
Calendering and Extruding Flexible NdFeB and Ferrite magnets with Nitrile
rubber binders are made using this method. The process is similar to that for
vinyl sheets. Parts are later die cut or stamped from sheets of various
thicknesses.
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