Many industrial applications utilize permanent magnets. A unique type of permanent magnet used in most of these applications is ceramic magnets. They have an impressive set of features that make them valuable materials. Here, we discuss what ceramic magnets are, as well as their applications in daily life and industrial processes.
Ceramic magnets, otherwise known as ferrite magnets, are a widespread type of permanent magnets. They are known for their medium magnetic strength and ability to withstand fairly high temperatures. Ceramic or ferrite magnets are mainly composed of strontium carbonates or barium carbonate, and iron oxide.
They are the most affordable, hard markets available on the market today. You most likely have seen them: they are the small, round black magnets we see often. Generally, ceramic magnets are sintered from iron oxide and other essential raw materials, such as strontium carbonate. They are broadly classified into three main categories: permanent, soft, and gyromagnetic ceramic magnets.
The preparation of ceramic magnets depends on the category of the magnet being prepared. Soft magnets, for instance, are prepared by the sintering of iron oxide and one or more metal oxides, such as nickel oxide, zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, manganese oxide, strontium oxide, and so on. We can also say that ceramic or ferrite magnets are made by calcining a mixture of iron oxide and strontium carbonate to form a metallic oxide.
Unlike permanent ceramic magnets, the residual magnetic field is infinitesimal or non-existent when the magnetic field wears off or disappears. Hence, they are called soft magnets.
Gyromagnetic ceramic magnets, on the other hand, are magnets or magnetic materials with gyromagnetic properties. They are used extensively in microwave communications. Based on their varying magnetic strength and uses, ferrite magnets can be classified into 5 main groups:
Ceramic magnets find their way into many critical applications (such as their use in moderately high-temperature situations and the making of magnetic separation equipment) because of some of the features and characteristics of ceramic magnets:
Ceramic magnets are very useful magnetic materials, which come in standard sizes and shapes. However, you can always request a custom production, depending on the application you need it for.