Ceramic Magnets

What Are Ceramic Magnets?

Ceramic magnets, easily recognized by their dark graphite-like appearance, are a type of permanent magnet made from the chemical compound ceramic. Composed of approximately 90% iron oxide and 10% strontium carbonate, these magnets are created from abundant and cost-effective materials, making them an economical choice.

Ceramic magnets are highly inert, resistant to rust, and do not require protective coatings. This allows them to be used across a wide range of applications. They also possess good resistance to demagnetisation and can function effectively at temperatures of up to 180 degrees Celsius.

What Is the Strength of Ceramic Magnets?

While ceramic magnets are significantly weaker than neodymium magnets, they offer excellent strength and depth of field when their size or volume is relatively large.

For instance, a ceramic magnet measuring 75mm x 50mm x 20mm thick provides a substantial pull. While two such magnets may be challenging to separate due to their size, they remain easy to handle. In comparison, an equally sized neodymium magnet could pose safety risks due to its extreme force, potentially crushing fingers. For applications like magnetic conveyor beds, ceramic magnets strike the perfect balance—offering enough strength without halting the conveyor when attracting steel parts. Additionally, they are a much more economical choice for such uses.

When paired with inexpensive steel poles, ceramic magnets can generate impressive clamping forces. For example, our F4MCE755020 measures 75mm x 50mm x 20mm and delivers a maximum pull of 5kg. However, placing two steel plates (80mm x 60mm x 3mm) on either side to create a steel x magnet x steel sandwich concentrates the magnetism, boosting the pull capacity to an astonishing 50kg!

What Are Ceramic Magnets Used For?

Ceramic magnets are ideal for applications requiring larger-sized magnets with cost-efficient properties compared to the small, high-strength characteristics of neodymium magnets.

These magnets are commonly found in holiday fridge magnets, large loudspeakers (especially bass or subwoofers), and magnetic conveyor systems where a broad magnetic field is needed but excessive strength would cause operational issues. For example, a conveyor system must avoid halting when steel parts are attracted.

Ceramic magnets also play a crucial role in high-performance clamping systems when paired with steel poles. This combination is frequently used in ceramic pot magnets and ceramic channel magnets, where magnetism is focused to achieve surprisingly strong clamping forces using cost-effective materials.

What Can FIRST4MAGNETS® Offer?

FIRST4MAGNETS® offers an extensive selection of ceramic magnets to suit almost any application. If you can’t find the exact magnet you need, contact our technical sales team at 0800 488 0288 for assistance. We’re here to help you find the perfect magnetic solution from our broad range of products.