What are AlNiCo magnets?
We often get questions about the different magnet types, so here is a brief explanation of what AlNiCo magnets are.
What are AlNiCo magnets made of?
The elements Aluminium, Nickel and Cobalt are hidden behind the name AlNiCo. Their clear advantage is that they can withstand very high temperatures of up to 450°C. But on the other hand, they are not particularly strong compared to e.g. neodymium and SmCo.
How strong are AlNiCo magnets?
AlNiCo magnets are not particularly strong compared to neodymium. They are approx. one tenth the strength of neodymium, i.e. approximately the same strength as we normally achieve with ferrite magnets.
Advantages and disadvantages of AlNiCo
The biggest reason for choosing AlNiCo is when high temperatures are needed in e.g. for production purposes.
They are also quite a bit more hardy than e.g. The SmCo magnets due to the composition of metals.
But they are very expensive as they consist of cobalt. So therefore they are often used for very special purposes such as e.g. production and manufacture of special tools.
AlNiCo vs. neodymium (NdFeB): AlNiCo is much tougher - ie. they withstand better impacts and shocks than neodymium. And with AlNiCo, you get a magnet that can withstand higher temperatures. But you also get a more expensive magnet that is not particularly strong. So therefore AlNiCo is suitable for very special purposes, where heat exposure and hardness are the most important parameters rather than strength and price.
AlNiCo vs. ferrite: The AlNiCo magnets withstand approx. 200°C more than ferrite magnets - that's a pretty big difference. You will be able to use both magnets outdoors and under fluctuating temperatures, and they are both quite hardy, but since a ferrite magnet is a raw magnet without coating, you have an extra advantage here in AlNiCo compared to ferrite. In terms of price, AlNiCo is much more expensive than ferrite.
Why are they so expensive? It is quite simple: they consist, among other things, of of cobalt, which is a very expensive material.
AlNiCo magnets and sound
There are many hi.fi enthusiasts who believe that speakers made with AlNiCo magnets have a better sound than those made with e.g. neodymium. But this is a very subjective thing and not something that can be measured scientifically.
Which magnet is right for you?
You have to weigh the pros and cons of the different magnet types, when you need to find out whether AlNiCo is the right magnet type for your project - especially due to the very large price difference compared to other magnet types. There is therefore no clear answer to this, other than that you must choose the magnet that meets all your requirements. But with a requirement specification, you can quickly find the right magnet type for your project.
Should we help you with magnetism?
We would very much like to guide you in choosing a magnet type. So let us finally hear from you with a project description, and then we will get back to you quickly with advice and guidance on choosing a magnet type and possibly also size and strength.