Alnico Magnets
"Alnico" is an abbreviation of aluminum, nickel and cobalt,
the three main elements in this mid-grade permanent magnet. Iron,
copper and often titanium are added to this compound to create a magnet
with a stronger magnetic force than all other permanent magnets,
excepting rare earth magnets. More cost-effective than high-strength
rare earth magnets and having higher magnetic force and permanence than
ceramic magnets, alnico magnets are the perfect fit for a wide range of
applications. Cow magnets are made exclusively from alnico, and alnico
is also used in sound amplification, electric motors, sensors and many
sorting and lifting tools.
Alnico magnets are similar to ferrite ceramic magnets but
are less brittle, more easily fabricated into shapes, and have higher
magnetic resistance. Being a metallic magnet rather than ceramic, they
are less brittle, more easily fabricated into shapes, and do not need
always to be nickel-coated for structural applications like ceramic
magnets do. Alnico magnets have medium-high magnetic force but
relatively unstable magnetic permanence under corrosion or vibration,
making them unsuitable for motor, water treatment and sound speaker
applications.