Strong magnets boast a wide variety of industrial and business applications. Whether you work in manufacturing, media, medicine, or even jewelry production, you’ve likely used strong magnets in some aspect of your work. And they can be found at any well-stocked distribution center like RS Components.
Which type of magnet is the strongest?
The strongest magnets on the market today are neodymium magnets, also known as NIB magnets. Manufacturers construct neodymium magnets by collecting rare earth metals and sifting through them, detecting any usable neodymium within. This neodymium is then ground into a fine powder, combined with boron and iron, and resealed into an appropriate shape.
Although neodymium is a ‘rare’ earth metal, it is widely obtainable and used in numerous business and everyday applications. The smartphone you use every day, for example, uses tiny neodymium magnets to function.
Neodymium magnet benefits
Because neodymium magnets are so strong, they’re useful even in tiny sizes—a small as 1 millimetre in diameter. Indeed, strong magnets are personally responsible for the technological advancements we’ve enjoyed over the last thirty years.
Even the smallest neodymium magnets can support a load totalling thousands of times their weight. Because the tiniest neodymium magnets are still useful, they’re highly versatile and are more affordable than weaker magnet varieties.
How to handle neodymium magnets
Neodymium magnets are highly magnetised, measuring between N24 and N55 on the theoretical magnetism scale (the maximum being N64). Because of this extreme magnetism, neodymium magnets can fly across a room in the presence of ferromagnetic metals. Of course, these flying projectiles pose a severe risk to anyone in the immediate area.
To stay safe when using neodymium magnets, make sure to be aware of any other materials and equipment in the area that could result in dangerous interference.
Which industries use strong magnets?
Strong magnets cover a broad scope of industrial applications. In the medical industry, for example, neodymium magnets are used in MRI scanners and to create dentures.
Because of their strength, tiny neodymium magnets are used to hold dentures together securely. MRI scanners work thanks to the combination of a large magnetic field and radiofrequency waves. In many hospitals, large neodymium magnets power open MRI machines.
You’ll also find strong magnets commonly used within heavy engineering, construction, and manufacturing. Permanent neodymium magnets are useful, for example, for lifting large ferrous items. They’re also used as part of magnetic separation systems, where the strong magnets help to remove unwanted paramagnetic and ferrous items from a production line.
Strong magnets are also vital in the security industry, where they’re used for door locks and reed switches in theft alarm systems. You’ll find neodymium magnets used in fire doors, where the seal remains strong, but opening the door is easy during an emergency.
You’ll also find neodymium magnets used in:
- Generators and motors
- Magnetic therapy
- ABS sensors
- Levitation devices
- Print finishing
- Much more
Conclusion
Neodymium magnets are the strongest magnets on the market today. They’re highly versatile, affordable, and are found in an enormous range of equipment, including audio devices, computer parts, jewellery, toys, and more.
Barry Lachey is a Professional Editor at Zobuz. Previously He has also worked for Moxly Sports and Network Resources “Joe Joe.” He is a graduate of the Kings College at the University of Thames Valley London. You can reach Barry via email or by phone.
