Hard Magnetic Materials
Hard magnets, also referred to as permanent magnets, are magnetic materials that retain their magnetism after being magnetised. Practically, this means materials that have an intrinsic coercivity of greater than ~10kAm-1. It is believed that permanent magnets have been used for compasses by the Chinese since ~2500BC. However, it was only in the early twentieth century that high carbon steels and then tungsten / chromium containing steels replaced lodestone as the best available permanent magnet material. These magnets were permanent magnets due to the pinning of domain walls by dislocations and inclusions. The movement of dislocations within a material is often hindered by the same factors that effect the motion of domain walls and as a consequence these steels are mechanically very hard and are the origin of the term hard magnetic. These magnets had an energy product of approximately 8kJm-
Antiferromagnetism
This phenomenon of magnetic moment coupling between adjacent atoms or ions occurs in materials other than those that are ferromagnetic. In one such group, this coupling results in an antiparallel alignment; the alignment of the spin moments of neighbouring atoms or ions in exactly opposite directions is termed antiferromagentism. Manganese Oxide (MnO) is one such material that displays this behavior. Manganese oxide is a ceramic material that is ionic in character, having both Mn and O ions. No net magnetic moment is associated with O ions, since there is a total cancellation of both spin and orbital moments. However, the Mn ions possesses s nrt magnetic moment that is Material predominantly of spin origin. These Mn ions are arrayed in the crystal structure such that the moments of adjacent ions are antiparallel. Obvioulsy, the opposing magnetic moments cancel one another and as a consequence, the solid as a whole possesses no net magnetic moment.
Ferromagnetism
Certain metallic materials possess a permanent magnetic moment in the absence of an external field, and manifest very large and permanent magnetizations. These are the characteristics of ferromagnetism, and they are displayed by the transition metals iron, cobalt, nickel, and some of the rare earth metals. Permanent magnetic moments in ferromagnetic materials result from atomic magnetic moments due to electron spinuncancelled electron spins as a consequence of the electron structure. There is also an orbital magnetic moments contribution that is small in comparison to the spin moment. Furthermore, in a ferromagnetic material, coupling interactions cause net spin magnetic moments of adjacent atoms to align with one another, even in the absence of an external field. The maximum possible magnetization or saturation magnetization Ms of a ferromagnetic material represents the magnetization that results when all the magnetic diploes in a solid piece are mutually aligned with the external field; there is also a corresponding saturation flux density Bs. Iron, nickel, and cobalt are examples of ferromagnetic materials.
Magnetic Properties
Diamagnetism is a very weak form of magnetism that is nonpermanent and persists only while an external field is being applied. It is induced by a change in the orbital motion of electrons due to an applied magnetic field. The magnitude of the induced magnetic moment is extremely small and in a direction opposite to that of the applied field. Most elements in the periodic table, including copper, silver, and gold, are diamagnetic. Paramagnetic material is one whose atoms do have permanent dipole moments, but the magic of ferromagnetism is not active. If a magnetic field is applied to such a material, the dipole moments try to line up with the magnetic field, but are prevented from becoming perfectly aligned by their random thermal motion. Because the dipoles try to line up with the applied field, the susceptibilities of such materials are positive, but in the absence of the strong ferromagnetic effect, the susceptibilities are rather small, say in the range to . When a paramagnetic material is placed in a strong magnetic field, it becomes a magnet, and as long as the strong magnetic field is present, it will attract and repel other magnets in the usual way. But when the strong magnetic field is removed, the net magnetic alignment is lost as the dipoles relax back to their normal random motion. Paramagnetic materials include magnesium, molybdenum, lithium, and tantalum.
Intrinsic dielectric strength
Another test term sometimes used is ‘intrinsic dielectric strength’, which is the maximum voltage gradient a homogeneous substance will withstand in a uniform electric field. This shows the ability of an insulating material to resist breakdown, but practical tests produce lower values for a number of reasons: • Defects, voids, and foreign particles introduced during manufacture which lower the dielectric strength locally, having the effect of reducing the test values as the area tested is increased • The presence of a stress concentration at the electrode edges or points where the electric field is higher than average. • Due to the damaging effect of an electric discharge during testing • Because of dielectric heating, which raises the temperature and lowers the breakdown strength.
Dielectric strength
All insulating materials fail at some level of applied voltage, and ‘dielectric strength’ is the voltage a material can withstand before breakdown occurs. Dielectric strength is measured through the thickness of the material (taking care to avoid surface effects) and is normally expressed as a voltage gradient (volts per unit length). Note that the voltage gradient at breakdown is much higher for very thin test pieces (<100µm thick) than for thicker sections. The value of dielectric strength for a specimen is also influenced by its temperature and ambient humidity, by any voids or foreign materials in the specimen, and by the conditions of test, so that it is often difficult to compare data from different sources. Test variables include electrode configuration and specimen geometry, and the frequency and rate of application of the test voltage. Standard strategies include: • The ‘short-time’ test, increasing the voltage from zero at a predetermined rate (usually between 100 and 3,000V/sec) until breakdown occurs • The ‘step-by-step’ test, initially applying half the short-time breakdown voltage, and then increasing this in equal increments, holding each level for a set period of time.
Dielectric Materials
A dielectric material (dielectric for short) is an electrical insulator that can be polarized by an applied electric field. When a dielectric is placed in an electric field, electric charges do not flow through the material as they do in a conductor, but only slightly shift from their average equilibrium positions causing dielectric polarization. Because of dielectric polarization, positive charges are displaced toward the field and negative charges shift in the opposite direction. This creates an internal electric field that reduces the overall field within the dielectric itself. If a dielectric is composed of weakly bonded molecules, those molecules not only become polarized, but also reorient so that their symmetry axes align to the field. The study of dielectric properties concerns storage and dissipation of electric and magnetic energy in materials. Dielectrics are important for explaining various phenomena in electronics, optics, and solid-state physics.
Brasses & Bronzes
Brass is an alloy made of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties. Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and tough, and it was so significant in antiquity that the Bronze Age was named after the metal. Admiralty brass contains 30% zinc, with 1% tin to inhibit dezincification in many environments. Alpha brasses with less than 35% zinc, are malleable, can be worked cold, and are used in pressing, forging, or similar applications. They contain only one phase, with face-centered cubic crystal structure. Alpha-beta brass (Muntz metal), also called duplex brass, is 35–45% zinc and is suited for hot working. It contains both α and β' phase; the β'-phase is body-centered cubic and is harder and stronger than α. Alpha-beta brasses are usually worked hot. Aluminium brass contains aluminium, which improves its corrosion resistance. Red brass is both an American term for the copper-zinc-tin alloy known as gunmetal, and an alloy which is considered both a brass and a bronze. It typically contains 85% copper, 5% tin, 5% lead, and 5% zinc. Aluminium Bronze A type of BRONZE in which aluminium is the main alloying metal added to copper. Small amounts of other elements such as iron, manganese, nickel and silicon are added to impart various properties such as corrosion resistance or malubility. It fairs well in the marine enviroment. Typical compostion: Copper 80% Aluminium 10% Nickel 5% Iron 5%…
Chromium
Chromium is a chemical element which has the symbol Cr and atomic number 24. It is the first element in Group 6. It is a steely-gray, lustrous, hard and brittle metal which takes a high polish, resists tarnishing, and has a high melting point. Chromium oxide was used by the Chinese in the Qin dynasty over 2,000 years ago to coat metal weapons found with the Terracotta Army. Chromium was discovered as an element after it came to the attention of the western world in the red crystalline mineral crocoite (lead(II) chromate), discovered in 1761 and initially used as a pigment. Louis Nicolas Vauquelin first isolated chromium metal from this mineral in 1797. Since Vauquelin's first production of metallic chromium, small amounts of native (free) chromium metal have been discovered in rare minerals, but these are not used commercially. Instead, nearly all chromium is commercially extracted from the single commercially viable orechromite, which is iron chromium oxide Chromite is also now the chief source of chromium for chromium pigments. Applications The strengthening effect of forming stable metal carbides at the grain boundaries and the strong increase in corrosion resistance made chromium an important alloying material for steel. The high-speed tool steels contain between 3 and 5% chromium. Stainless steel, the main corrosion- proof metal alloy, is formed when chromium is added to iron in sufficient concentrations, usually above 11%. For its formation, ferrochromium is added to the molten iron. Also nickel-based alloys increase in strength due to the formation of discrete, stable metal carbide particles at the grain boundaries. For example, Inconel 718 contains 18.6% chromium. Because of the excellent high-temperature properties of these nickel superalloys, they are used in jet engines and gas turbines in lieu of common structural materials. The relative high hardness and corrosion resistance of unalloyed chromium makes it a good surface coating, being still the most "popular" metal coating with unparalleled combined…
Zinc
Zinc (symbol Zn), in commerce also spelter, is a metallic chemical element. It has atomic number 30. It is the first element of group 12 of the periodic table. In some respects zinc is chemically similar to magnesium: its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2. Zinc is the 24th most abundant element in the Earth's crust and has five stable isotopes. The most common zinc ore is sphalerite (zinc blende), a zinc sulfide mineral. The largest mineable amounts are found in Australia, Asia, and the United States. Zinc production includes froth flotation of the ore, roasting, and final extraction using electricity (electrowinning). Brass, which is an alloy of copper and zinc, has been used since at least the 10th century BC in Judea and by the 7th century BC in Ancient Greece. Zinc metal was not produced on a large scale until the 12th century in India and was unknown to Europe until the end of the 16th century. The mines of Rajasthan have given definite evidence of zinc production going back to 6th century BC. To date, the oldest evidence of pure zinc comes from Zawar, in Rajasthan, as early as the 9th century AD when a distillation process was employed to make pure zinc. Alchemists burned zinc in air to form what they called "philosopher's wool" or "white snow". Applications Major applications of zinc include • Galvanizing (55%) • Alloys (21%) • Brass and bronze (16%) • Miscellaneous (8%) The metal is most commonly used as an anti-corrosion agent. Galvanization, which is the coating of iron or steel to protect the metals against corrosion, is the most familiar form of using zinc in this way. In 2009 in the United States, 55% or 893 thousand tonnes of the zinc metal was used for galvanization. Zinc is more reactive than iron or steel and thus will attract almost all local oxidation until it completely corrodes away. A protective surface layer of oxide and carbonate forms as the zinc corrodes. This protection lasts even after the zinc layer is scratched but degrades through time as the zinc corrodes away. The zinc is applied electrochemically…
