Invention and Engineering

Ferrite (magnet)

A ferrite is one of a family of iron-oxide-containing magnetic ceramic materials. They are ferrimagnetic, meaning they are attracted by magnetic fields and can be magnetized to become permanent magnets. Unlike many ferromagnetic materials, most ferrites are not electrically-conductive, making them useful in applications like magnetic cores for transformers to suppress eddy currents. Ferrites can be divided into two groups based on their magnetic coercivity, their resistance to being demagnetized: "Hard" ferrites have high coercivity, so are difficult to demagnetize. They are used to make permanent magnets for applications such as refrigerator magnets, loudspeakers, and small electric motors. "Soft" ferrites have low coercivity, so they easily change their magnetization and act as conductors of magnetic fields. They are used in the electronics industry to make efficient magnetic cores called ferrite cores for high-frequency inductors, transformers and antennas, and in various microwave components. Ferrite compounds are extremely low cost, being made mostly of iron oxide, and have excellent corrosion resistance. Yogoro Kato and Takeshi Takei of the Tokyo Institute of Technology synthesized the first ferrite compounds in 1930.

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• ▸Chicago
• ▸Fresco
• ▸John Forbes Nash Jr.

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