Why Should You Choose Rubber-Coated Magnets?
Why do Magnets Need Coating?
Many magnets are coated with different materials because it is highly beneficial. Materials are used as a coating for a magnet based on how the use of that magnet aligns with the properties of the coating material.
One of the reasons why magnets need coating is to improve corrosion resistance. If you are using the magnet for an activity that could potentially expose it to humidity, it’s better to add a coating to your magnet, or it may undergo corrosion. Corrosion can tamper with the magnetic field of a magnet and must be avoided at all costs.
Other reasons one might opt to coat a magnet include easy cleaning, improved electrical conductivity, and improved durability. Coated magnets usually have a smoother finish that makes them easier to clean. Also, some magnets have very low electrical conductivity. These magnets can be coated with a good electrical conductor to improve their electrical conductivity.
There are various types of magnet coatings. Some popular coatings are nickel-copper-nickel, black nickel, gold, rubber, perylene, plastic, and titanium nitride. Each type of coating has properties unique to it. For the rest of this article, we will be focusing more on rubber-coated magnets.
What are Rubber-Coated Magnets?
Rubber-coated magnets are magnets covered with black isoprene rubber as a coating. They are one of the most widely used magnets across various industries. Rubber-coated magnets are known to be highly durable, offering great friction and protection.
Furthermore, they are ideal for use both outdoors and indoors. This type of magnet is usually used for holding and mounting applications due to its high resistance to slip. Rubber-coated magnets usually have a coating of about 0.3 inches in thickness. Rubber-coated magnets exist in different designs such as threaded stems, internal threads, countersunk holes, and screw sockets.
Different Types of Rubber-Coated Magnets
Rubber-coated magnets mainly include the following types:
1. Threaded Stem-Type Rubber Coated Magnet
2. Screw Socket-Type Rubber Coated Magnet
3. Internal Thread-Type Rubber Coated Magnet
4. Countersunk Hole-Type Rubber Coated Magnet
Advantages of Rubber-Coated Magnets
Corrosion Resistance
Rubber-coated magnets have high corrosion resistance because rubber does not corrode. They usually have a thicker coating than most other magnets. This ensures that they can be used in a humid environment without undergoing any change that could alter their magnetic field.
High Slip Resistance
Rubber-coated magnets usually have higher friction than other types of magnets. This means they have high slip resistance. For this reason, rubber-coated magnets are suitable for holding applications.
Adaptability to Temperature
Rubber-coated magnets can work just fine at temperatures as high as 80 °C and as low as 40 °C.
More Color Options
Rubber-coated magnets have more color options than other types of magnets. They come in an array of colors. This type of magnet can be blue, yellow, red, white, pink, and so on.
Physical Strength/ Durability
Rubber-coated magnets are durable. Conventional magnets can be brittle or chip off easily. However, a layer of protection is added to rubber-coated magnets, protecting them from the woes that may befall other types of magnets.
Inertness
Rubber-coated magnets are usually less likely to react with chemicals than other types of magnets. Hence, they are suitable for applications that do not require any form of chemical reaction from magnets. In this way, the magnets also last longer because they do not undergo disruptive chemical reactions.
Applications of Rubber-Coated Magnets
Holding
Rubber-coated magnets are excellent for holding things on surfaces. They are particularly excellent for holding things on surfaces that will normally be difficult to hold items on. An example of such a surface is glass.
Implants
Rubber-coated magnets are inert. Therefore, they are suitable as medical implants. Rubber-coated magnets do not react with body fluids or body tissue when used as implants unlike some other types of implants.
Other Types of Magnetic Coatings
Nickel
Nickel is the most popularly used material for coating magnets. Nickel-coated magnets have 3 layers of coating. They can work at a temperature of up to 513 K . These magnets are used in sensors, engines, medical devices, and generators.
Gold
Gold-coated magnets are commonly used in the medical field. Gold is also used to coat magnets that require high electrical conductivity. The maximum temperature that gold-coated magnets can work under is 473 K.
Rhodium
Rhodium is another material often used to coat magnets. Rhodium-coated magnets are usually resistant to tarnish and corrosion. This type of magnet can be used in medicine, jewelry, and the automobile industry. They function best at temperatures below 473 K.
Conclusion
Rubber-coated magnets are inert, durable, and corrosion-resistant. These advantageous properties are responsible for their growing popularity in various industries. Thank you for reading and we hope it can help you to have a better understanding of rubber-coated magnets. If you want to learn more, we would like to advise you to Stanford Magnets for more information.