Ceramic magnets are referred to as ferrite magnets. Iron, a ferromagnetic metal, makes up the majority of all ceramic magnets. In the 1960s, ferrite magnets were created as a less expensive alternative to metallic magnets. Iron oxide and strontium carbonate make them up. Ceramic magnetics aren’t commonly made of raw iron chunks that are solid. They need to be manufactured. The methods of manufacturing ceramic magnets will be explained later in this article.
Ceramic magnets have gained widespread popularity due to their corrosion and demagnetization resistance as well as their low cost per pound. Although the hard and brittle nature of ceramic magnets excludes them from a few applications, more than 75% of magnets consumed worldwide are ferrite (by weight). It is the top option for the majority of DC motors, magnetic separators, magnetic resonance imaging, and automotive sensors. There are a lot more uses for ceramic magnets as permanent magnets because of their low cost.
The manufacturing of ceramic magnets involves powder technology methods. Iron oxide and strontium carbonate are the main raw ingredients used to manufacture ferrite. After combining these materials, they are heated to a temperature between 1800 and 2000 Fahrenheit degrees. They go through a chemical transformation at this temperature, and the end product is ferrite.
The ferrite material is subsequently wet-milled into extremely tiny particles. Following that, the ground powder is either dried (for dry-pressed material) or pumped into a die (in wet slurry form) in a sizable hydraulic press. Non-magnetic steel with carbide liners occupies the die. The shape of the ferrite material to be pressed is influenced by the die cavities.
In this method, the ground powder from above is compressed dry, producing an isotropic magnet with poorer magnetic characteristics but higher dimensional tolerances. A dry-pressed magnet frequently doesn’t need finishing ground.
The powder material is combined with water to create a slurry in this second process. A magnetic field and a die are used to condense the slurry. An anisotropic magnet with higher magnetic characteristics is produced by the applied field, but finishing is frequently necessary.
Next, a magnetic field is used to compact the wet powder (slurry). The flat ferrite particle may more easily align itself in the magnetic field thanks to the water. During the process of compaction, the majority of the water is removed. During the earliest stages of the sintering process, the residual water is evaporated. At a temperature of roughly 2000 degrees Fahrenheit, sintering occurs.
The material is fully dense and prepared for finishing grinding to the customer’s specifications after sintering. All grinding for ceramic magnets is done with diamond wheels due to the material’s extreme hardness and brittleness.
There are numerous applications for ceramic magnets.
Ceramic magnets have become increasingly popular in modern industries due to their high energy content and unique properties. Ceramic magnets come in a wide range of forms and sizes and offer dependable strength. These magnets are not only inexpensive but also lightweight and demagnetization-resistant.
Thank you for reading and we hope it can help you to have a better understanding of ceramic magnets. If you want to learn more about magnetic materials, we would like to advise you to Stanford Magnets for more information.