Applications of ferrites

Magnetic ceramics represent an important fraction of the magnetic industry in the US, an estimated 40% of the total hard magnetic materials market value is dominated by ferrites, and in spite of the continuous development of new materials, ferrite consumption is still growing. In soft material applications, ferrites participate with an estimated 20% of the market value. In 1990, the estimated world production was 159 500 metric tons of soft ferrites, and 431 100 metric tons of hard ferrites (Ruthner, 1989). In addition to the versatility of ferrites, there are two essential factors which explain this success the low electrical conductivity, and the low production cost. The market value of ferrites ( 3/kg) is very low compared with other electroceramics 33/kg for varistors, 330/kg for thermistors and 1100/kg for ceramic capacitors (Cantagrel, 1986). 

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An important application of ferrites is for shielding sensitive equipment (e.g. data-processing, telecommunications and audio-visual equipment) from electromagnetic interference (EMI). Both NiZn- and MZn-based ferrites components are capable of suppressing interference up to the GHz frequency range by virtue of the high impedance they present to high frequency currents. The ferrite parts are made in a variety of shapes to enclose the leads to be shielded, as shown in Fig. 9.17. 

Many of the specific applications of ferrites depend on their behaviour at high frequencies. When subjected to an ac field, ferrite permeability shows several dispersions as the field frequency increases, the various magnetisation mechanisms become unable to follow the field. The dispersion frequency for each mechanism is different, since they have different time constants. Fig. 4.59. The low-frequency dispersions are associated with domain wall dynamics and the high-frequency dispersion, with spin resonance the latter, usually in the GHz range, is discussed in Section 4.6.2. 

Kato, Y. and Takei, T. (1932) Japanese patent 98,844. The first commercial applications of ferrites. 

Menzel, J. (1996), Development, Production and Application of Ferritic-Martensitic High Nitrogen Steels, 2nd European International Congress Stainless Steels 96, Diisseldorf/Neuss, Germany, June 3-5,1996,42-46. 

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