Neodymium Magnets And Other Magnet Types

Magnets are some of the essentials that we cannot live without. They are found and used everywhere such as in constructions, inventions, cars, computers, hi-fi amplifiers among other very many items. They are used in circumstances that require repulsion without any contact over a small distance. Magnets come in different types. This article highlights some of the types of magnets that exist, their different properties and situations that favor their use.

• Neodymium Magnets

Ceramic magnets

These are magnets that are made when ceramics and iron oxide elements are combined. The magnets tend to be hard and brittle though when they are exposed to stress they can easily break. They are also referred to as ferrite magnets. Other elements such as zinc, barium, strontium, manganese and nickel are also added to the iron element. You are likely to find these magnets in musical instruments and applications such as transformers and instrument pickups. Due to the radar absorption quality found in this type of magnet, it is frequently used in the paint used on stealth aircrafts.

Neodymium magnets

These magnets are made from earth materials that are spread out rarely in the earth’s crust. This makes it very difficult for miners to find the materials and mine efficiently. It also gets very expensive to mine them. However these materials are very strong magnetically when compared to the other types of magnetic materials. The neodymium magnet is usually very strong and is only used in applications and circumstances that require high performing magnets such as in computer parts and electric motors.


Alnico Magnets


These magnets are made from combining the aluminum, nickel and cobalt materials. These elements also make up the acronym, Alnico. However these are just the main elements in the magnet. Other elements are added such as copper and titanium.  The use and performance of these magnets together with their results determines the proportion and combination of the elements to be used in the magnet. The Alnico magnets are versatile and can be used in different types of applications. However since they are not as strong as the other magnets, they are being displaced and substituted in their usage.


Summary

You should remember that the use of the magnet and the specific requirement is what dictates which magnet is to be used for which purpose. The different magnet types differ in terms of cost and their performance. They are mostly chosen according to the properties they posses and the usage. Magnets are everywhere; you use them unknowingly every day. You can be surprised by the many types of magnets that are found in the things that surround you each and every day. Each of these magnets is chosen wisely for optimal performance to handle the task required.