Magnetic Materials

Some materials are strongly attracted, some are weakly attracted

and some are actually repelled. Magnetic materials are
diamagnetic, paramagnetic and ferromagnetic materials. In an
atom, various orbital and spin magnetic moments of electrons
exactly cancel so that the atom is not magnetic. The magnetic
moments of these atoms are randomly oriented so that there is no
net magnetic moment in any volume of the material. When such
material is placed in a magnetic field, the field exerts a
torque on each magnetic moment which tends to align the magnetic
moment along the field.

Introduction to Magnetisation and Magnetic Intensity

The Magnetic behaviour of a magnet is characterized by the
alignment of the atoms inside a substance. When a ferromagnetic
substance is brought under the application of a strong external
magnetic field, then they experience a torque wherein the
substance aligns themselves in the direction of the magnetic
field applied and hence gets strongly magnetized in the
direction of the magnetic field.

Magnetic Intensity or Intensity of Magnetic Field

The magnetic intensity at a point is defined as the force that
unit north - Pole experiences when it is placed in that field.
The intensity of magnetic field at P due to single pole is given
by:

Fig: Intensity of magnetic field at P due to single north pole

Meaning or Definition of Intensity of Magnetisation

The Magnetic moment of a magnet undergoes a change when it is
placed in a magnetic field. This change that is, the magnetic
moment change per unit volume is known as in Intensity of
Magnetisation.

Formula of Intensity of Magnetisation

Where, m – Pole strength

A- Area of cross section

Intensity of Magnetisation Unit

The S.I unit of intensity of magnetisation is Ampere/metre or
A/m

Difference between Magnetic Intensity and Intensity of

Magnetisation
The magnetic intensity defines the forces that the poles of a
magnet experiences in a magnetic field whereas the intensity of
magnetisation explains the change in the magnetic moment of a
magnet per unit volume.

OTHER RELATED QUESTIONS:

Q1. What is H in magnetism?
Sol. H in magnetism is defined as the magnetic field strength that
is, the strength of the field that a magnet has to attract or
repel other substance.

Q2. What is the magnetic field intensity?

Sol. The magnetic field intensity at any point is defined as the
force experienced by the point when placed under the influence of
an external magnetic field.

Q3. What is meant by magnetisation?

Sol. Magnetisation can be defined as a process in which a substance
is made a permanent or temporary magnet by exposing them to an
external magnetic field.

Q4. What is induced magnetisation?

Sol. Induced magnetisation can be defined as the process in which
a non-magnetic material can be magnetized by bringing it under
the influence of an external magnetic field.

Magnetic Intensity, Permeability and Susceptibility

Suppose a material placed in a uniform magnetic field B 0, such
as inside long solenoid. The applied field magnetizes the
material and aligns the dipoles which produce a magnetic field
BM of their own. At any point, the magnetic field B is the sum of
the applied field B0 and the field produced by the B M.
The magnetization field BM is related to the intensity of
magnetization I.
BM = μ0/I
Where μ0 is the permeability of free space.
Both B0 and I are parallel with axis and so,
B = μ0I= B0+μ0I
As BM = μ0I
The magnetic permeability μ of a magnetic material is the ratio
of total induced magnetic field B to the external magnetic field
H. Actually, magnetic permeability is the measure of the degree
of penetration of magnetic field through the substance kept in
an external magnetic field.
The relative permeability is defined as the ratio of the
permeability of substance to the permeability of vacuum. It is
denoted by μr.
The SI unit for the representation of magnetic permeability is
Henries per meter (H/m or H·m −1). This unit is equivalent to
Newtons per ampere squared (N·A −2).

The permeability is expressed as:

The magnetic susceptibility, χ of the material is the ratio of

intensity of magnetization to the magnetic intensity, H

It is a measure of how susceptible or easily and strongly a

material be magnetized by H. χ is unitless as unit of I and H is
same.
Relation between μ and χ
The magnetic field intensity in a material is B
What is the Difference Between Magnetic Permeability
and Susceptibility?

Magnetic Permeability vs Susceptibility

Magnetic susceptibility is
the measure of magnetic
Magnetic permeability of a
properties of a material
material is the ability of a
which indicates whether the
material to support the formation
material is attracted or
of a magnetic field inside itself.
repelled from an external
magnetic field.

Units of Measurement

Magnetic permeability is measured

by the SI unit Henries per meter The magnetic susceptibility
(H/m or H·m−1) which is equivalent is a dimensionless
to Newtons per ampere squared property.
(N·A−2).

Value for Diamagnetic Materials

The value of magnetic

The value of magnetic permeability
susceptibility for
for diamagnetic materials is less
diamagnetic materials is
than 1.
less than zero.

Value for Paramagnetic Materials

The value of magnetic

The value of magnetic permeability
susceptibility for
for paramagnetic materials is
paramagnetic materials is
greater than 1.
greater than zero.
Classification of Magnetic Materials:
In general the following are the magnetic materials available:

We would be discussing mainly three types of magnetic materials.

They are:

1. Diamagnetic material
2. Paramagnetic material
3. Ferromagnetic material
Diamagnetic material

Those substances which are feebly magnetized in the direction

opposite to the applied field are called diamagnetic material.

Examples of diamagnetic materials are bismuth, copper, water,

mercury, alcohol, argon, gold, tin, mercury, antimony etc. The

magnetic moment of atoms of a diamagnetic material is zero. They

acquire induced dipole moments when the material placed in an

external magnetic field. These moments are in opposite in the

direction to the applied field.

Some properties

1. The diamagnetic materials are repelled by magnets.

2. When a diamagnetic liquid in a watch glass is placed over
two closely spaced pole pieces of the magnet, it is
depressed at the middle while in the case of pole pieces
separated by a distance, it rises at the middle. Similarly,
when a diamagnetic liquid is placed in a U-tube and one of
the limbs of the tube is placed between the two strong pole
pieces of magnet, the liquid depressed at that limb.
3. The diamagnetic materials move from a stronger to a weaker
field.
4. A diamagnetic rod, freely suspended in a magnetic field,
slowly turns to set at right angle to the applied field.
5. Since magnetized is opposite in direction to an applied
field, the diamagnetic materials have the small value for
the intensity of magnetization, I.
6. The materials have always negative magnetic
susceptibility, χ=(μr−1)χ=(μr−1) and accounts from -10-6 to
-10-5.
7. These materials are independent of temperature.
Paramagnetic Material

Those materials which are weekly magnetized in the same

direction of the applied magnetic field are called paramagnetic

material. The examples of paramagnetic materials are aluminum,

chromium, oxygen, manganese, alkali, alkaline earth metal etc.

The paramagnetic materials have permanent magnetic moments.

These moments interacts weekly with each other and randomly

orient in the different direction.

Some Properties

1. The paramagnetic materials are feebly attracted by magnets.

2. A paramagnetic rod, freely suspended in a magnetic field,
aligns along the field.
3. The paramagnetic materials are temperature dependent and
follow curve law.
4. The relative permeability is nearly unity than ranges from
1.00001 to 1.003 for common ferromagnetic materials at room
temperature. So, the magnetic lines of force inside the
material placed in a magnetic field are more than that
outside it.
5. The susceptibility of paramagnetic substances has small
positive value.

Ferromagnetic Material

The ferromagnetic materials are highly magnetized in a magnetic

field. The examples of ferromagnetic materials are iron, nickel

and cobalt, and their alloys such as alnico. Gadolinium and

dysprosium are ferromagnetic at low temperature.

Some Properties

1. Ferromagnetic materials are highly attracted by magnets.

2. Ferromagnetic materials more from weaker to stronger field.
3. A ferromagnetic rod, freely suspended in a magnetic field,
turns fast to set along the applied field.
4. The magnetic susceptibility is positive and very high and
varies with applied field.
5. The relative permeability is very high in the order of 1000
to 100,000.
6. Ferromagnetic dust in a watch glass, placed over two
closely spaced pole-pieces of the magnet, increases at the
middle, while pole piece is separated by a distance,
depresses in the middle.

Domain Theory of Ferro Magnetism

Fig: Magnetic domain in ferromagnetic material

Each atom of ferromagnetic substance has a permanent magnetic

substance; in the unmagnetised state, the atomic and molecular

dipoles are arranged in random so the net magnetic moment is

zero. There is a strong interaction with neighboring atoms which

keeps their magnetic moment aligned parallel in small regions

even in the absence of an external field. These small regions

with the volume ranging between 10 -12 to 10-8 m3 are called

domains. When the material is placed in an external field B e,

the domains tend to orient themselves parallel to field B 0. As

the applied field becomes stronger, the domains, having magnetic

moments not aligned with the field, become very small and when

the domains fully align to the applied field, the material

attains magnetic saturation. On removing the field, the domain

walls do not move completely into previous positions. This means

material retains a magnetization in the direction of the applied

field.

Hysteresis

Fig: Hysteresis loop of ferromagnetic material

Fig: (a) Hysteresis loop of steel (b) Hysteresis loop of soft
iron

 Assume a piece of magnetized iron placed in a magnetizing

field H.
 When the value of H is gradually increased from zero value.
The magnetic induction B in an iron also increases.
 When H is increased, B also increases till saturation point
P but beyond P if H is increased B remains constant.
 When the value of H is now decreased, B does not retrace
the path PO but at the lower rate and at H being zero, B is
not zero but has the finite value represented by OC. The
value of B at this point is called retentivity.
 Further, when H is increased in opposite direction, the
value B falls to zero for the magnetizing field to be equal
to OD. This value of the magnetizing field is called
coercivity of material of specimen.

Applications of magnetic materials:

Automotive Industry Uses There are electric motors found in

nearly all automobiles for the windshield wipers, windows, and
door locking systems. The most important component of any
electric motor is the magnet as it is the driver of circular and
linear movement in the motor. Ferrite type magnets are most
commonly found in these motors but neodymium magnets are growing
in popularity.
Food and Pharmaceutical Industry Uses In the manufacturing of
different foods or medications, iron particles can inadvertently
get mixed in during the process. Magnets are used to pick out
these iron particles easily and efficiently. Magnetic strips are
also used for labeling foods and medicines on shelving.
Uses in Trains Maglev trains which were first introduced in
Japan in 1977 use magnets to reduce friction and increase train
speed. Maglev is short for magnetically levitated. Both the
train and the rails contain magnets that repel one another and
result in the train floating above the train tracks. Due to this
magnetic implementation, these trains can safely travel at 300
miles per hour!
Construction, Shipping, and Manufacturing Industry Uses Large
industrial magnets are used for moving heavy loads. They also
help dredge large items from the ocean floor.
Other Miscellaneous Uses
 In airports, construction sites, and docks, magnetic sweepers
are used to pick up any scrap or waste that could potentially
puncture tires or endangering traffic.
 Magnetic sheeting is used for making car signage due to being
able to easily put them on and then remove them. It’s also a
cheap alternative to lettering directly on the vehicle.
 Magnets are used in speakers to convert electrical energy
into sound energy.
Magnets are used in almost every major manufacturing industry in
the world. Check back soon as we will cover some very specific
uses for our products in our next blog post.