Permanent Magnets
Magnets can largely be broken up into two categories: non-permanent and permanent. Non-permanent magnets are electromagnets which require an external electric current to trigger magnetism or nonmagnetism. Permanent magnets, on the other hand, retain their magnetism indefinitely or until they are demagnetized by vibration, dirt, corrosion or interfering magnetic fields. A magnet's capacity for retaining its magnetism under various conditions is called "magnetic permanence", and some types of permanent magnets have higher capacities for permanence than others. Permanent magnets are used in applications which require constant magnetic force, such as in metal separation and holding.
Mechanical motion can also be created by permanent magnets when an electric current is introduced to one of the magnets' poles. Rare earth magnets, including neodymium magnets and samarium cobalt magnets, have a much stronger magnetic force (and higher magnetic permanence) than other permanent magnets and for this reason can be used in small quantities to help with sound amplification and computer data processing. Very small neo magnets help computer hard drives read and store information, or they may cause the vibration in speakers which produces sound. Ceramic magnets and aluminum-nickel-cobalt alloyed alnico magnets, two types of permanent magnet which are fabricated through sintering, are also used to amplify sound as well as for various metal holding, sorting and electric motor applications. This diversity of applications make permanent magnets essential in food processing, bulk material handling, metal fabrication and handling, electric motor manufacturing, sound amplification, data processing and many other industries. Magnet manufacturers can fabricate custom permanent magnets into a variety of shapes, densities and magnetic strengths.