Introduction To Alnico Magnets

Introduction To Alnico Magnets

Alnico Attributes

Manufacturing Alnicos

Alnico Magnets FAQs

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Alnico magnets are made from an alloy of ALuminum, NIckle and CObalt, hence the name. In addition to the above three, there can also be other metals added to the composition at times like Titanium and Copper. By varying the composition it is possible to tailor the magnetic properties to meet the needs of a wide variety of user ended applications. 

Manufacturing Alnico Magnets

Alnico magnets are manufactured by using primarily two processes:

  1. Cast alnico magnets that are made by pouring melted alnico into a mold. The solidified material is rough ground and then heat treated and cooled. The material is either anisotropic (treated in a magnetic field) or isotropic (treated outside a magnetic field). After treatment the material is ground to specific tolerances and magnetized.
  2. Sintered alnico magnets are made from a powdered mixture of ingredients that are pressed into a die under tons of pressure. They are then sintered in a hydrogen atmosphere and cooled in an anisotropic or isotropic environment.

Attributes of Alnico Magnets

Alnico magnets have several attributes that make them highly desirable materials for industrial use. Developed in the 1940s, the Alnico magnets continue to be the desired choice of material for many applications. The exceptional linear temperature characteristics exhibited by alnico magnets along with high magnetic flux density and good corrosion resistance are ideally suited for use in products of all sizes and shapes. Alnico magnets display the following unique properties:

  1. Alnico magnets are coarse and brittle and crack easily so the regular machines cannot be used to treat alnico.
  2. They exhibit small changes in magnetic properties to temperature effects.
  3. Maximum working temperatures can be as high as 450-5500 C.
  4. Have low coercive force.
  5. Strong corrosion resistance.
  6. No coating needed for surface protection.

Applications Of Alnico Magnets

Alnico magnets are commonly used in applications such as instruments and meters that require very stable temperature properties. Electronic ignition systems, generators, vending machines, hand tools, magnetic reed switches, volt-amp meters and medical instruments are some of the commonly used applications of alnico magnets.

Other applications include:

  • Sintered alnico magnets are used in the buzzers of mobile phones, hearing aids and mini speakers.
  • In the automotive industry, alnico magnets are used in the lighters and odometers of automobiles and motorcycles.
  • Alnico magnets are also widely applied in high stability fields like aviation, military technology and space flights.
  • They are important components of inner magnetic voltmeter / ammeter, electronic type power energy measuring instrument, avometers and flow meters.
  • Alnico magnets are also used in a wide range of magnetic sensors, polarized relays, and temperature and pressure controllers.

In brief, alnico magnets are suited for all types of products from miniscule cellphones weighing less than a gram to radar focusing magnets weighing fifty pounds or more.

From the time they were developed till date, alnico magnets continue to be the most widely used, most popular and economical magnets in the industry.

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