Excellent temperature stability, high residual induction, and relatively high energies
characterize Alnico materials, composed primarily of alloys of Aluminum, Nickel, and Cobalt. They are manufactured through either a casting or sintering process.
Cast magnets may be manufactured in complex shapes, such as horseshoes, not possible with other magnet materials. Sintered Alnicos offer slightly lower magnetic
properties but better mechanical characteristics than cast Alnicos.
Cast Alnico 5 is the most commonly used of all the cast Alnicos. This material is used extensively in rotating machinery, meters, instruments, sensing devices, and holding applications, to name a few.
Alnico is hard and brittle. Machining or drilling can not therefore be accomplished
by ordinary methods. Holes are usually cored in at the foundry, and magnets are
cast close to final size and then finish machined to
closer tolerances.
Alnico has a low coercive force, and is easily demagnetized if not handled with care.
For optimum performance of Alnico 5, the magnetic length should be approximately
5 times the pole diameter or equivalent diameter. For example, a 0.250" diameter magnet should be about 1.250" long.
Because of its higher coercivity, Alnico 8 may be used in shorter lengths and in
disc shapes.
