Tuesday, August 12, 2008

What is a Ceramic Magnet ?

A ceramic is a powdery substance that has been bonded to make a solid object.
The powders are usually metal Oxides, and often require a very high temperature to make them solid.

Most ceramics are very hard, so they are pressed in molds to their desired shape before being bonded.

About sixty years ago it was found thst some magnetic powders could be bonded to make magnets that were very powerful. The best of these mixtures used either Barium or Stronium compounds mixed with Iron.

These ceramic magnets stayed magnetized at high temperatures and other stressful conditions. They were good for making small but powerful electric motors.
Ceramic powders were also used to make magnetic recording tape, credit cards, and "refrigerator magnets"

Refrigerator magnets are thin flexible magnets that stick to refrigerators and other appliances, and also stick to most automobiles.

The very best ceramic msgnets are about half as strong as Neodymium magnets.
Neodymium supermagnets are used where ceramic magnets will be too large, or not strong enough, as in modern computer disk drives. and in small earphones.

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