ALNICO
Developed around 1940, Alnico magnets are still used in some applications where performance stability at high temperatures is required. Alnico is the acronym that refers to a family of alloys composed mainly of aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co), they also include iron and copper and sometimes also titanium.
The magnets can be produced both by sintering and by melting process and subsequent casting in the required shapes. The final magnetic characteristics of Alnico magnets are reached after adequate heat treatments in the presence, in the case of anisotropic magnets, of strong magnetic fields. Through particular procedures it is possible to favor a directional growth of the grains, the particles with an elongated shape have a greater coercivity along their major axis, this phenomenon is known as shape anisotropy. Due to the low coercive force, it is recommended to magnetize Alnico magnets only after assembly, to avoid accidental demagnetization.
CORROSION
RESISTENCE
Being composites mainly of aluminum, nickel and cobalt with the addition of metal elements; Alnico magnets are not subject to corrosion processes.
TEMPERATUE
RESISTENCE
The working temperature is about 500 ° C and a Curie temperature around 800 ° C. These characteristics make them the strongest magnets in extreme conditions.
MECHANICAL
RESISTANCE
The composition and the production process make it the most resistant from the mechanical point of view among the permanent magnets on the market.
LOW
COERCIVITY
It allows its use in particular fields of application, but requires that the magnetization of the product be carried out at the end of the assembly process so as not to leave the magnet with an "open magnetic circuit".