Uses of ferromagnetic materials

Uses of ferromagnetic materials

(i) Permanent magnets

The ideal material for making permanent magnets should possess high retentivity (residual magnetism) and high coercivity so that the magnetisation lasts for a longer time. Examples of such substances are steel and alnico (an alloy of Al, Ni and Co).

(ii) Electromagnets

Material used for making an electro-magnet has to undergo cyclic changes. Therefore, the ideal material for making an electromagnet has to be one which has the least hysteresis loss. Moreover, the material should attain high values of magnetic induction B at low values of magnetising field H. Soft iron is preferred for making electromagnets as it has a thin hysteresis loop (Fig.) [small area, therefore less hysteresis loss] and low retentivity. It attains high values of B at low values of magnetising field H.

(iii) Core of the transformer

A material used for making transformer core and choke is subjected to cyclic changes very rapidly. Also, the material must have a large value of magnetic induction B. Therefore, soft iron that has thin and tall hysteresis loop is preferred. Some alloys with low hysteresis loss are: radio-metals, pern-alloy and mumetal.

(iv) Magnetic tapes and memory store

Magnetisation of a magnet depends not only on the magnetising field but also on the cycle of magnetisation it has undergone. Thus, the value of magnetisation of the specimen is a record of the cycles of magnetisation it has undergone. Therefore, such a system can act as a device for storing memory.

Ferro magnetic materials are used for coating magnetic tapes in a cassette player and for building a memory store in a modern computer. Examples : Ferrites (Fe, Fe₂O, MnFe₂O₄ etc.).