Cast Alnico
Cast alnico is melted and poured into a mold. Once solidified, the material is rough ground and then heat-treated and cooled, sometimes in a magnetic field. When treated in the presence of a magnetic field, the magnet is called anisotropic. This orients the material to take on maximum magnetization and allows a higher gauss level. A cast magnet that is not heat-treated in a magnetic field is called isotropic. After heat treatment and cooling, the material can be ground to specific tolerances and then magnetized.
Sintered Alnico
Sintered alnico is made from a powdered mixture of ingredients that are pressed into a die under tons of pressure, sintered in a hydrogen atmosphere and then cooled either within a magnetic field or without (anisotropic vs. isotropic).
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Applications of Alnico Magnets

  • Magnetos
  • Separators
  • Sensors
  • Electron tubes
  • Traveling wave tubes
  • Radar
  • Holding magnets
  • Coin acceptors
  • Clutches and bearings
  • Motors
  • Distributors
  • Relays
  • Controls
  • Generators
  • Receivers
  • Telephones
  • Microphones
  • Bell ringers
  • Guitar pickups
  • Loudspeakers
  • Security systems
  • Cow magnets

Attributes of Cast Alnico

  • Size parameters range from 1 ounce to about 70 pounds
  • Will cast to a variety of shapes and sizes

Attributes of Sintered Alnico

  • Size parameters range from about one ounce of material up to one cubic inch
  • Pressed to close tolerance/minimal grinding to finish
  • Mechanically strongest of alnicos

Attributes of Both Cast and Sintered Alnico

  • Very temperature stable, great for high heat applications
  • Maximum working temperature 975° - 1020° F
  • May be ground to size
  • Does not lend itself to conventional machining (hard and brittle)
  • High residual induction and energy product compared to ceramic material
  • Low coercive force compared to ceramic and rare earth materials (more subject to demagnetization)
  • Most common grades are 5 and 8

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