What are magnets made of ?
Magnets can be made of four different types of materials: alnico, ferrite, neodymium, or samarium cobalt. magnets made of magnetic materials, alnico, ferrite, neodymium, or samarium cobalt.
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magnets made
Alnico
Alnico magnet elements: Aluminium Al, Nickel Ni, Cobalt, Co, Iron Fe, and Copper Cu
Alnico magnets are made of a combination of aluminium, nickel, cobalt, iron and copper.
They can be identified by their traditional red coating; all except for a channel horseshoe magnet which is used for industrial uses, so does not require a coating.
Advantages and disadvantages of magnetic materials
ADVANTAGES
Operates at temperatures as high as 850°C
Corrosion resistant
DISADVANTAGES
Can only be made into horseshoes magnets and long thin cylinder magnets
They are self demagnetising. For more information on this, see: Magnets glossary
Ferrite
Ferrite elements: Strontium Sr, oxygen O, Carbon C, and Iron Fe
Ferrite is strontium hexaferrite SrO-6 (Fe203), which is an alloy made of strontium carbonate and iron oxide.
Ferrite magnets are also known as ‘ceramic magnets’ due to their brittle nature being very similar to porcelain.
Flexible magnetic tape
One type of ferrite magnet is a flexible magnet. This is where the alloy of strontium carbonate and iron oxide is mixed with rubber to make a magnet which can be coiled into a 6.35mm (0.25″) to 25mm (0.98″) radius without damaging the magnetic abilities of the magnet.
ADVANTAGES
Cheap to manufacture
Can work in high temperatures
Corrosion resistant
Low cost
DISADVANTAGES
Hard and brittle so can break easily
Demagnetises at -10°C to -20°C
Neodymium iron boron (NdFeB)
Neodymium magnet elements: Neodymium Nd, Iron Fe, and Boron B
Neodymium magnets are made up of an alloy containing neodymium, iron, and boron.
They are the most common type of magnet available as they can produce the strongest magnetic field in a very small area due to the materials that make up the magnet being a stronger combination than any other.
Due to the magnetic force they produce, neodymium magnets can be used for any type of magnet from magnetic sweepers to magnetic discs.
ADVANTAGES
Advantages and disadvantages of magnetic materials
DISADVANTAGES
They corrode quickly, unless they are coated, due to their iron content
They start to demagnetise at anything above 80°C
Samarium cobalt (SmCo)
Samarium cobalt magnet elements: Samarium Sm, and cobalt Co
Samarium cobalt magnets are an alloy of samarium and cobalt but can sometimes contain a small amount of either iron, copper, hafnium, zirconium, or praseodymium.
Samarium cobalt magnets are usually made into magnetic discs, bar magnets and pot magnets.
ADVANTAGES
Work at high temperatures, even at 300°C
Highly corrosion resistant so can be used under water
DISADVANTAGES
Are very brittle magnets so can chip and break easily
Expensive due to their cobalt content
Which type should you choose?
If there is an option of different types of magnetic material to choose from, for example when selecting a magnetic disc, the best type to choose would be a neodymium magnet. magnets made – This is because this magnet is the most powerful type available so is able to cope with a wider range of tasks than the other magnets.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
