What are Neodymium Magnets?

In modern science and industry, there is a material known as the "King of Magnets," possessing astonishing power in an extremely small volume. This is the neodymium magnets. Whether in your smartphone or in a new energy vehicle cruising on the road, neodymium magnets play a vital role.

What are Neodymium Magnets?

Neodymium magnets are currently the strongest magnets commercially available. They belong to the rare-earth permanent magnet material family and are primarily manufactured using powder metallurgy processes from the rare-earth element neodymium (Nd), the metallic element iron (Fe), and the non-metallic element boron (B).

Due to their exceptional magnetic properties, neodymium magnets are often referred to as "neodymium iron boron" or simply "strong magnets."

Core Advantages of Neodymium Magnets

• Extremely high magnetic energy product: In the same volume, the magnetic force of a neodymium magnet far exceeds that of a traditional ferrite magnet.
  
  
• High coercivity: This means it has extremely strong resistance to demagnetization and can maintain a stable magnetic field over a long period.
  
  
• High cost-effectiveness: Although it belongs to rare earth materials, its cost per unit of magnetic energy is highly competitive in high-end applications.
  
  

Neodymium Magnet Classification and Grades

To meet the needs of different industrial environments, neodymium magnets are classified into different magnetic material grades. You may often see designations such as N35, N52, or 45SH in datasheets:

• Numbers (e.g., 35, 52): Represent the maximum magnetic energy product. The larger the number, the stronger the magnetism. Currently, the highest grade for commercial mass production is usually N52.
  
  
• Letter suffixes (e.g., M, H, SH, UH, EH): Represent the temperature resistance grade.
  
  
• N series: Temperature resistance approximately 80°C.
  
  
• SH series: Temperature resistance up to 150°C.
  
  
• EH series: Temperature resistance up to 200°C.
  

Applications of Neodymium Magnets

Thanks to their miniaturization and high efficiency, neodymium magnets are used in almost all high-tech industries:

• Consumer Electronics: Vibration motors in smartphones, high-performance headphone drivers, and laptop hard disk drives (HDDs).
  
  
• New Energy Vehicles: Drive motors are the biggest growth area for neodymium magnets, directly determining the power density and energy efficiency of the motors.
  
  
• Wind Power Generation: Large wind turbines utilize permanent magnet motor technology to improve power generation efficiency and reduce maintenance costs.
  
  
• Medical Equipment: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) equipment requires extremely stable and strong magnetic fields, which relies heavily on high-performance neodymium iron boron magnets.
  
  
• Industrial Automation: Servo motors, robot joints, and magnetic sorting equipment.
  
  

Precautions for Use and Storage

• Fragility: Neodymium magnets are relatively brittle; violent impacts can easily cause them to break or chip. Direct impacts should be avoided during handling.
  
  
• Oxidation and Corrosion: Due to their high iron content, neodymium magnets are prone to oxidation. Therefore, commercially available finished products typically undergo electroplating treatment (such as nickel plating, zinc plating, or epoxy resin coating).
  
  
• Magnetic field interference: Strong magnetic fields may damage credit cards, pacemakers, and traditional mechanical watches; a safe distance must be maintained when storing them.
  
  

As the "king of magnetic materials," neodymium magnets have revolutionized modern industry. From micromotors to large-scale clean energy projects, they have consistently been a core support for achieving high efficiency and miniaturization. With the global transition to a low-carbon economy, the demand for neodymium magnets will continue to rise.