Alnico magnets
Alnico magnets are made from an alloy of aluminum, nickel, cobalt, and iron, known for their excellent temperature stability and resistance to demagnetization. These magnets were among the strongest available before the development of rare earth magnets like neodymium and samarium cobalt. Alnico magnets can operate at high temperatures, up to 550 degrees Celsius, making them ideal for applications involving extreme heat.
They are commonly manufactured through either casting or sintering processes, with cast alnico magnets offering better magnetic properties but rougher surfaces, while sintered alnico provides smoother finishes and slightly lower magnetic strength. Alnico magnets are characterized by their bright metallic appearance and are often used in educational settings for demonstrations due to their distinct shapes, like horseshoes and rods.
Their main applications include sensors, electric motors, and guitar pickups, where stability over a wide range of temperatures is crucial. Despite being overshadowed by stronger rare earth magnets in some modern applications, alnico magnets still hold significant utility in many industrial and consumer products due to their robustness and reliability.