Which Metals Are Magnetic?

Magnets were first discovered by ancient civilizations going back 2,500 years, and by the 12th and 13th centuries AD, magnetic compasses were commonly used for navigation in China and Europe. Today, magnets are an essential part of modern technology. They are found in almost any appliance you can name, from mobile phone speakers to electric motors, washing machines and air conditioners.

The magnet industry continues to grow due to the increased demand for magnetic circuit components widely used in industrial equipment, while technological advances enable magnets to be 60 times as strong as they were 90 years ago.

What Makes a Metal Magnetic?

The magnetic properties of metals originate from three main factors: electron spin, electron motion, and how these electrons respond to external magnetic fields.

For a metal to be magnetic, it must have unpaired electrons in its atomic structure. These unpaired electrons generate magnetic moments that can align with each other, creating a collective magnetic effect.

The electron configuration determines whether a material will be:

• Ferromagnetic: where unpaired electrons align parallel to each other, creating strong magnetic properties (like in iron, nickel, and cobalt)
• Paramagnetic: where unpaired electrons are randomly arranged, producing weak magnetic attraction
• Diamagnetic: where all electrons are paired, causing materials to be slightly repelled by magnetic fields

Iron, cobalt, and nickel are ferromagnetic metals because of their electronic structures. In these metals, the magnetic moments produced by unpaired electrons align within regions called magnetic domains. When exposed to an external magnetic field, these domains can orient in the same direction, amplifying the magnetic effect.

The transition metals and lanthanides (rare earth elements) commonly display magnetic properties due to their unpaired d and f electrons. This explains why elements like gadolinium and dysprosium also exhibit ferromagnetic behaviour.

For ferromagnetism to occur, there must be an internal driving force causing parallel alignment of electron spins. Physicist Pierre Weiss explained this through his molecular field theory, which describes the internal interaction between localized moments.

Which Metals Are Magnetic?

So, what metals are magnetic? Magnetic metals include:

• Iron
• Nickel
• Cobalt
• Some alloys of rare earth metals

These magnetic metals fall under the following categories:

• Permanent Magnets
• Electromagnets
• Neodymium Magnets

Permanent Magnets

When people think of magnets, they’re often thinking of permanent magnets. These are objects that can be magnetized to create a magnetic field. The most common example is the refrigerator magnet, which is used to hold notes on our refrigerator door.

The most common metals used for permanent magnets are iron, nickel, cobalt and some alloys of rare earth metals.

There are two types of permanent magnets: those from “hard” magnetic materials and those from “soft” magnetic materials. “Hard” magnetic metals tend to stay magnetized over a long period. Common examples are:

• Alnico alloy: an iron alloy with aluminum, nickel and cobalt. Alnico alloys make strong permanent magnets. They are widely used in industrial and consumer electronics. For example, in large electric motors, microphones, loudspeakers, electric guitar pickups and microwaves.
• Ferrite: a ceramic compound composed of iron oxide and other metallic elements. Ferrites are used in refrigerator magnets and small electric motors.

“Soft” magnetic metals can be magnetized but lose their magnetism quickly. Common examples are iron-silicon alloys and nickel-iron alloys. These materials are typically used in electronics, for example, transformers and magnetic shielding.

Electromagnets

Electromagnets are made from a coil of copper wire wound around a core made from iron, nickel or cobalt. The coiled wire will generate a magnetic field when an electric current passes through it; however, the magnetic field disappears the moment the current stops. Electromagnets need electricity to work. Their usefulness lies in the ability to vary the strength of the magnetic field through controlling the electrical current in the wire.

Electromagnets are commonly used in electric motors and generators. They both work on the scientific principle of electromagnetic induction, discovered by scientist Michael Faraday in 1831, which says that a moving electric current will create a magnetic field and vice versa. In electric motors, the electric current generates a magnetic field that moves the motor. In generators, an external force such as wind, flowing water or steam rotates a shaft, which moves a set of magnets around a coiled wire, thus producing an electric current.

Electromagnets are also used to flick the switches in relays used in telephone exchanges, railway signalling and traffic lights.

Junkyard cranes are also fitted with electromagnets, which are used to pick up and drop large vehicles with ease. These electromagnets take the form of a round plate fitted to the end of the crane.

A modern train system known as Maglev (short for magnetic levitation) uses electromagnets to levitate the train above the rail. This reduces friction and allows the train to move at tremendous speed.

Advanced applications of electromagnets include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines and particle accelerators (like the Large Hadron Collider).

Neodymium Magnets

Neodymium magnets are a type of rare-earth magnet comprised of an alloy of neodymium, iron and boron. They were devised in 1982 by General Motors and Sumitomo Special Metals. Developed independently by both companies, these magnets have revolutionized what metals are magnetic across industries.

Neodymium magnets are the strongest type of permanent magnet commercially available. With the ability to produce magnetic fields up to 1.4 teslas, they significantly outperform other magnetic metals like alnico and samarium-cobalt in terms of strength. They are used when strong permanent magnets are required, particularly in cordless tool motors, hard disk drives and magnetic fasteners.

Despite their impressive magnetic prowess, neodymium is highly susceptible to oxidation and corrosion, which can impair its performance. These magnets can also lose their magnetic properties when exposed to temperatures starting at about 80°C or 176°F.

Turning Non-Magnetic Metals into Magnets

Copper and manganese are not normally magnetic. However, a ground-breaking new technique, developed by Oscar Cespedes of the University of Leeds, UK, has transformed copper and manganese into magnets.

Cespedes and his team fabricated films of copper and manganese on carbon structures called Buckyballs. When an external magnetic field was applied and removed, the films retained 10% of the magnetic field. This new technique is set to provide a more biocompatible and environmentally friendly way to manufacture MRI machines.

Other possible applications include use in wind turbines. Wind turbines currently use iron, cobalt, and nickel with rare-Earth elements. But these elements are expensive and tough to mine. The breakthrough opens the possibilities to cheaper alternatives.