Alpha Magnet

United States

For a more flexible alternative to sintered neodymium, consider using bonded neodymium magnets for your application. Bonded neodymium powder is used to create these magnets. Powder is melted and mixed with a polymer. Components are then cast or extruded to create the product. Bonded Neodymium magnets can be magnetized into complex patterns with many poles. Bonded neodymium magnets are much weaker than Sintered Neodymium magnets but gives greater flexibility in terms of shapes that are able to be made. Neodymium magnets are lighter than Samarium Cobalt, however, they have a lower acceptable temperature. Neodymium offers excellent value for applications that require a smaller-sized magnet.

Driven by the high cost of samarium cobalt magnets, the Nd2Fe14B Compound was first discovered in 1982. Neodymium magnets are the strongest type of permanent magnet commercially available. Alpha Magnet sells only patent licensed sintered neodymium magnets. Neodymium has excellent characteristics: it has very high remanence and coercivity. It is possible to manufacture in a variety of shapes including radial oriented magnets. Previously for higher temperatures, only samarium cobalt was able to meet certain requirements. With the development of modern neodymium grades, some grades are able to exceed acceptable samarium cobalt temperatures. However, for most high temperature applications, samarium cobalt is still used based on a lower cost. Neodymium is one of the most widely used magnets today because of its versatility, strong magnetic capability, and small relative size. UM

Traditionally, multi-pole ring magnets were created using multiple arc magnets glued to the assembly. While spinning, it was not uncommon for the adhesive material loosen and the magnet would dislodge itself. Also, the requirements for exact accuracy between all of the magnets in the ring shape to have the exact same physical and magnetic properties - thus many magnets would fail because of the high requirements. But because of the technological limitations, for years there was no good solution.

Ferrite magnets, also known as ceramic magnets, were developed in the 1960’s as a low cost alternative to metallic magnets. Ferrite magnets have won wide acceptance due to their excellent corrosion resistant and good resistance to demagnetization. Despite their relatively low energy output, ferrite magnets’ popularity is largely from its low price. It is the first choice for most automotive sensors, MRI machines, DC motors, and magnetic separators. In fact, based on weight, it is the most widely used permanent magnet available today.

Samarium cobalt is a rare earth material made by a powder metallurgical process. Manufactured using binders such as epoxy, samarium cobalt magnets are inherently very brittle. Users are discouraged from grinding material because dry remnants are a fire hazard. Some of the advantages of using samarium cobalt is that it provides excellent temperature stability and as well as excellent corrosion resistance. Because of this, typically coating or plating is not required. Samarium cobalt is excellent for operating in harsh environments were it will be exposed to the elements as well as high operating temperatures.