Permanent magnets have become indispensable in today’s technology-focused world. The many different magnetic materials and their manifold characteristics have firmly established permanent magnets as important elements in countless application fields. In addition to the proven materials ferrite and AlNiCo, modern magnets are also made from rare earth materials such as neodymium-iron-boron and samarium-cobalt. Even small magnets made from these materials offer strong magnetic force and thereby cater to the growing demand for smaller and stronger magnets.
Permanent magnets also play a key role in the growing field of automation technology, where it is essential to continue the development of drives, actuators and sensors. A particular leap in the direction of future technologies was the discovery of the new materials samarium-cobalt and neodymium-iron-boron. Some of the particularly suitable applications are products that can only function with permanent magnets, including e-bikes, electric drives in the automotive sector and hybrid cars.
Plastic-bonded hard ferrite magnets are composite materials that consist of permanent magnetic powder made from hard ferrite and embedded in thermoplastic materials. Using injection molding, this material can be used to inexpensively produce complex or filigree shapes with different magnetic and mechanic properties. It is also possible to integrate axles, shafts and bearing bushes. Another advantage of plastic-bonded magnets is their high resistance against corrosion and breakage, although, of course, the magnetic performance of sintered magnets without plastic additives cannot be matched by plastic-bonded magnets.