Soft Magnetic Materials

A MAGNETIC material which is relatively easily magnitize or demagnetize is called

Soft magnet marerial The term soft relats to that class of matals which can easily magnetize or demagnetize . These materials are used for making temporary magnets. The domain wall movement is easy. Hence they are easy to magnetize. By annealing the cold worked material, the dislocation density is reduced and the domain wall movement is made easier. Soft magnetic materials should not possess any void and its structure should be homogeneous so that the materials are not affected by impurities

APPLICATIONS Soft magnetic materials are used extensively in power electronic circuits, as voltage
and current transformers, saturable reactors, magnetic amplifiers, inductors, and chokes. These magnetic devices may be required to operate at only 50/60 Hz, or at frequencies down to dc or over 1 MHz. For example, a steel lamination ac mains voltage transformer operates at 50/60 Hz, while its ferrite switch-mode power supply equivalent may operate at 500 kHz. Soft magnetic materials have been utilised in
other Two basic types of soft magnetic materials are extensively used, depending on the application and its requirements. These materials are Powder iron and alloy cores are available in toroidal or ring shapes, cylindrical and hollow cylindrical cores, as well as cup cores, bobbins, pot cores, and beads

Permanent Magnets
Materials which retain their magnetism and are difficult to demagnetize are called hard magnetic materials. These materials retain their magnetism even after the removal of the applied magnetic field. Hence these materials are used for making permanent magnets. In permanent magnets the movement of the domain wall is prevented. They are prepared by heating the magnetic materials to the required temperature and then quenching them. Impurities increase the strength of hard magnetic materials.

Permanent Magnets Applications