Magnets, Magnetic Metals, and Non-Magnetic Metals: A Quick Guide
Magnets were discovered by ancient civilisations 2,500 years ago. During the 12th and 13th centuries AD, magnetic compasses were widely employed for navigation in Europe and China.
Magnets play an important role in modern technologies. The magnet market is expanding due to an increase in demand for magnet circuit parts, which are widely employed in industrial, automotive, scientific, and common household equipment.
What exactly is magnetism?
Magnetism is a force that both attracts and repels magnetic things. Magnetic fields that penetrate various mediums moderate this force.
Magnetism is a natural feature of some materials. Certain materials, however, can be magnetised or demagnetised depending on the requirements.
What Causes Metal Magnetism?
The migration of electrons causes magnetism. It is analogous to electric current. When electrons spin, a tiny dipole is formed.
If the spins are balanced, the net force of these spins can be minimal. On the other hand, if there are a lot of unpaired elements, the magnetic moment can get really big. As a result of this process, magnetic fields are formed around metals.
Magnetic fields can be created by electric currents. A circular magnetic field is created when an electric current flows through a wire. The magnetic field produced by an electric current close to a power conductor can likewise be used to generate electric currents.
It has resulted in the development of numerous novel technologies and applications that make use of magnetism and electricity. Electromagnetic theories explain a great deal of recent technology progress.
What Magnets Are There?
Magnets come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The length of time that a magnetic metal’s characteristics stay active distinguishes it. As a result, magnets can be divided into the following groups:
- Permanent \sTemporary
- Electromagnets
- Magnets that are permanent
When it is about magnetic snaps wholesale, you can think of permanent magnets. By magnetising these objects, a magnetic field can be formed. As an example, consider the refrigerator magnet, which is widely used to hang messages on the refrigerator door.
The majority of permanent magnets are made of iron, nickel, or cobalt
Permanent magnets are classified into two types: “hard” magnets and “soft” magnets. Magnetic metals that are “hard” tend to be magnetised for an extended period of time.
Some popular examples are as follows:
- Alnico is a metal alloy composed of aluminium, nickel, and cobalt. Alnico alloys can be used to create a powerful permanent magnet. They are widely used in consumer electronics and industrial applications. The material can be found in big electric motors, microphones, loudspeakers, electric guitar pickups, and microwaves, among other things.
- Ferrite is a ceramic compound that is made up of iron oxide and other components (Strontium or Barium). Refrigerator magnets and small electric motors are two examples of ferrites’ usage.
- Samarium Cobalt alloys are rare earth magnets that are frequently utilised in specialised applications such as aerospace.
- It is possible to magnetise “soft” magnetic metals, although they lose their magnetism quickly. Iron-silicon alloys and nickel-iron alloys are two common examples. This type of material is commonly used in electronics, such as transformers and magnetic shielding.
- Magnetic fields are generated by the internal structure of permanent magnets. They are not prone to losing their magnetic attraction rapidly. Ferromagnetic metals can be formed into permanent magnets that retain their magnetic field in the face of external effects. They are stable because they can endure demagnetizing pressures.
Understanding permanent magnets requires an understanding of the internal structure of magnet materials. Magnetic characteristics are displayed when domains of a material are lined up in the same direction. Domains are small magnetic sources found inside a material’s structure.