MAGNETS AND MAGNETIC-MATERIALS - A TECHNICAL ECONOMIC-ANALYSIS (REPRINTED FROM THE JOURNAL-OF-METALS, VOL 1, PG 16, 1995)

The status of permanent and soft magnetic materials is reviewed in the context of pricing, the structure of the industry and markets. Perman ent magnetic materials include hard ferrites, samarium-cobalt, iron-bo ron-neodymium and Alnico; primary examples in the second category are soft magnetic ferrites, iron-silicon electrical steels, ferromagnetic amorphous alloys and nickel-iran alloys. Key production methods involv e particulate processing utilizing mature powder metallurgy technologi es and developing technologies with rapid solidification as an intrins ic component. With a continuous improvement in magnetic properties, ma ny new applications are projected for the remainder of the decade.