Products & Properties

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ALNICO MAGNET PROPERTIES
1.0 CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
Alnico alloys basically consist of aluminum, nickel,
cobalt, copper, iron and titanium. In some grades cobalt
and/or titanium are omitted. Also these alloys may contain
additions of silicon, columbium, zirconium or other
elements which enhance heat treatment response of one of
the magnetic characteristics.
2.0 MANUFACTURING METHODS
The Alnico alloys are formed by casting or powder
metallurgical processes. The magnetic performance of
most grades can be increased in a preferred direction by
applying a magnetic field during heat treatment thus
producing magnetic anisotropy. These alloy systems are
hard and brittle and do not lend themselves to
conventional machining. The best properties of cast
Alnico magnets are achieved with columnar or single
crystal structure with the direction of magnetization
parallel to the columnar grain axis.
3.0 MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
Typical magnetic properties and chemical compositions of
the various commercial grades of Alnico are given in
Table II-l.
4.0 DIMENSIONS AND TOLERANCES
Allowable tolerances for cast and sintered Alnico are
given in Table II-2 and Table II-3.
5.0 MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The following general specifications are for mechanical
characteristics and visual imperfections.
5.1 Surface Conditions
51.1 All magnet surfaces shall be free of foreign materials
which would tend to hold or collect extraneous particles
on the magnet surface in the unmagnetized condition.
5.2 Chips and Burrs
5.2.1 Magnets shall be free of loose chips and burrs. They
shall be free of imperfections which will result in loose
chips or particles under normal conditions of handling and
service.
5.2.2 A chipped edge or surface shall be acceptable if no
more than 10 percent of the surface is removed, provided
no loose particles remain and further provided the magnet
under examination meets the agreed upon magnetic
specification.
5.3 Other Physical Imperfections
5.3.1 Imperfections such as cracks, porosity, voids, cold
loose chips or particles under normal conditions of handling,
shipping, assembly and service. flow, shrinkage,
pipe and others, all of the type commonly found in cast or
sintered Alnico magnets, shall be judged acceptable if the
following conditions are met:
5.3.1.1 The magnet meets the minimum magnetic performance
criteria agreed upon.
5.3.1.2 The imperfections do not create loose particles or
other conditions which will interfere with proper
functioning of the end use device.
5.3.1.3 These visual imperfections do not extend more than
50% through any cross-section. However, this does not
apply to the columnar materials (Alnico 5-7 and Alnico 9)
which are particularly crack-prone due to their columnar
grain. Magnets made of these materials shall be judged
acceptable if they maintain their physical integrity
satisfactorily for the application.
5.4 Other Conditions
5.4.1 Inspection methods such as the use of penetrants,
microscopic inspection, magnetic particle analysis, spin
tests, ultrasonics, or x-ray shall not be acceptable methods
for judging the quality of cast or sintered Alnico
magnets except as provided in 5.4.2 below.
5.4.2 In cases where the magnet is expected to with stand
abnormal conditions or stresses, such conditions must be
previously specified and a mutually acceptable service test
devised to assure that the magnet shall not fail under the
specified service conditions. Such tests should duplicate
service conditions with appropriate safety factors.
6.0 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Typical physical properties for Alnico magnets are given
in Table II-4.
7.0 THERMAL PROPERTIES
Typical thermal properties for Alnico magnets are listed in
Table II-5.
8.0 INSPECTION SAMPLING PLANS
Unless otherwise agreed upon, magnets will be inspected
for all specified characteristics by the use of a statistically
valid sampling plan. Such plans may be derived from,
Quality Planning and Analysis: From Product
Development Through Use, J. M. Juran and F. M. Gryna,
3rd Edition McGraw Hill (1993), Chapter 19. ISBN-0-07-
033183-9.
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