Since ferrite and ceramic magnets are usually referred to as some of the strongest and most durable magnets that exist in the world, I wanted to find out how strong these types of magnets really are. So, I did some of my own research and testing to find out the real strength of ferrite and ceramic magnets.
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How strong are ferrite and ceramic magnets? The strength of ferrite and ceramic magnet is measured through a unit called a Tesla. The strongest magnetic field of a ferrite magnet is considered to be 0.35 Tesla. A ferrite magnet is able to complete within its magnetic field is up to 160 kiloampere tpm, or up to 2000 oersteds.
Ferrite and ceramic magnets are considered to be permanent magnets, which are among the strongest and most durable magnets that exist in the world. When it comes to the magnetic force of these types of magnets, they are calculated through specific units of measurement and translate to very high amounts.
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Today we will be going over how strong ferrite and ceramic magnets really are, in terms of Tesla and turns per meter, or oersteds. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know in order to become a magnet strength expert by the time you get to the last page.
How Strong Are Ferrite & Ceramic Magnets?
You might already be aware that ferrite and ceramic magnets, a type of permanent magnet, have the capability to exhibit very high levels of strength. However, most people cannot say that they know exactly how strong one of these magnets are.
Ferrite & Ceramic Magnets Average Strength:
- 0.35 Tesla
- 30-160 Kiloampere
- 400 to 2000 oersteds
The strength of ferrite or ceramic magnet, in particular, is measured in a unit called Tesla. Teslas account for one weber per square meter within a magnetic field, which is equal to 10,000 gausses.
The average strength of a ferrite magnet is around 0.35 Tesla, with the strongest and most powerful medical MRI machine coming in at just 3 teslas, to give you a better idea of where these magnets stand.
The magnets’ strength is also measured bt the turns per meter that they are able to produce in terms of their magnetic fields. On average, a ferrite magnet will exhibit around 30 turns per meter, with the highest being 160.
Turns per minute is referred to scientifically as a kiloampere. The average statistics of 30 to 160 kiloampere translate to anywhere from 400 to 2000 oersteds.
Just one oersted is the equivalent to just under 80 amperes per meter, which is a relatively high number when it comes to magnetism.
Although these new terms of measurement might seem like a foreign language no matter how well they are explained, the next section will go over how ferrite magnets can be compared to other types of magnets that you might have heard of before.
Ferrite & Ceramic Magnets - Strength Comparison
Along with learning about the strength levels and capabilities of ferrite and ceramic magnets, it is helpful to be able to observe a direct comparison between these types of magnets and other categories.
Whether you have any previous knowledge of magnetism and the strength of some of the most basic types of magnets or if you are looking to learn about these topics, the list down below will give you a general explanation of where ferrite and ceramic magnets fall on the spectrum of strength.
How The Strength Of Ferrite & Ceramic Magnets Compares To Others:
- Stronger than metallic magnets
- Weaker than neodymium magnets
Due to the high level of magnetic permeability that ferrite and ceramic magnets possess naturally, they are able to give off stronger magnetic fields than most types of metallic magnets.
To be more specific, permeability is defined as the influence that a substance has on the magnetic fields that are existent in that specific area. So, ferrite and ceramic magnets are significantly stronger than magnets in the metallic category.
On the contrary, ferrite magnets are much weaker than neodymium magnets. This is because neodymium is one of the strongest magnetic materials in existence.
Neodymium magnets can be used within households as well as in industrial and commercial settings, with various different sizes and purposes. Most commonly found in the form of a disc magnet, neodymium magnets are widely used around the world on a daily basis.
To give you a better idea of how strong ferrite and ceramic magnets really are when they are up against their counterparts, they are stronger than metallic magnets but weaker than neodymium magnets, which puts them somewhere in the middle.
What Are Ferrite & Ceramic Magnets?
Ferrite magnets, also known as ceramic magnets, are a type of magnet that is made out of a mixture of metals that is called ferrite.
Ferrite is made up mostly of a chemical element called iron oxide. More specifically, ferrite magnets are made up of 90 percent iron oxide, along with traces of other types of metals and elements to make up the remaining 10 percent.
The most widely manufactured and distributed type of ferrite magnet is called Strontium Ferrite, or SrO6(Fe2O3). In the list down below, you will find a short description of what this type of ferrite magnet is made out of.
What Ferrite Magnets Are Made Of:
- Chemical Compound Ferrite
- Chemical Composition SrO6(Fe2O3)
- 90 percent iron oxide
- 10 percent strontium carbonate
Along with the Strontium Ferrite magnets, there is an additional type of ferrite and ceramic magnet. Also made up mostly of the chemical element iron oxide, the rest of this type of magnet is made of Barium.
Also known as Barium Ferrite, or BaO.6Fe2O3, it is the least popular option when it comes to ferrite and ceramic magnets.
So, what are the actual characteristics of Strontium and Barium Ferrite magnets, and what makes them different from any other category of magnet?
Ceramic Magnets Lowes
What Are Ferrite Magnets?
- Made of iron oxide
- Combined with other chemical elements
- 2 types of ferrite magnets
- Resistant to demagnetization
- Strong and durable
- Weaker than neodymium magnets
- Difficult to alter
Ferrite magnets are made up of a large mixture of iron oxide and various other chemical elements. Both of the categories that were mentioned above are extremely strong and durable, while still coming in weaker than neodymium magnets.
These types of permanent magnets are very difficult to alter, while not impossible. With the consolation of a professional as well as very careful technique, a ferrite magnet can be cut into and the shape can be changed accordingly.
Additionally, there is always the option to purchase a custom made ferrite magnet that takes the shape of exactly what you need it for, which is the most preferable choice.
Ceramic Magnets Definition
As you can see, ferrite and ceramic magnets have very unique properties of their own and are very strong when it comes to the magnetic fields they give off.
Their exact strength can be measured and compared to other types of magnets to help us come to the conclusion that these durable magnets can be used to our advantage for almost anything.
When choosing a new pickup for your guitar, the magnet is one of the most essential yet complicating elements involved in the sound creation process. We’ll try to demystify the process by looking at the issue of alnico vs ceramic magnets and how they affect your guitar’s tone. You’ll see in this discussion that these types of magnets produce different kinds of sounds — so many that your decision-making may prove challenging.
The type of magnet that a pickup uses is one of the things that they like to hype-up in advertisements. This magnet sounds bright, and that magnet sounds warm, but is there any validity to what they are saying? Do the different types of magnets make any difference at all?
We’re going to take a look at several different types of magnets in detail to see exactly who wins in an alnico vs ceramic magnets shootout. So keep reading while we look at composition, strength, polarity, and more, to help unlock the mystery surrounding pickup magnets.
Magnet Composition
A great place to start our alnico/ceramic magnets discussion is with the composition of each type of magnet.
Ceramic Magnets
Ceramic magnets came out in the 1960s and became popular because of the high cost of metal magnets. They’re also known as ferrite magnets, and three out of four magnets you encounter in your life are ceramic. Iron oxide and strontium carbonate are mixed and heated to very high temperatures to create the magnet, which his how they get their ceramic name. The magnets are then allowed to cool in a magnetic field to pick up their magnetic charge.
Ceramic magnets are typically stronger than Alnico magnets, so they produce more output. The stronger magnetic field is also said to put out more high-end frequencies, potentially leading to a harsh and brittle tone.
Alnico Magnets
An alnico magnet gets its name from the aluminum, nickel, and cobalt that it contains, but alnico also contains many other elements and is mostly iron. The actual composition of alnico can vary quite a bit. These magnets are softer than ceramic magnets and provide a weaker magnetic field. The weaker magnetic field created by alnico magnets is said to give them a warmer, smoother quality than a ceramic magnet, but at the cost of reduced gain.
Alnico Magnet Numbers
Ceramic Magnets Reef Safe
There are different numbers associated with alnico magnets, such as alnico 2, or alnico 5. These numbers are usually written as Roman numerals, like Alnico II, or Alnico V. These numbers refer to the ratio of aluminum to nickel to cobalt. Different ratios yield magnets of varying strength. Alnico II is the weakest and favored by many jazz players. Alnico II magnets are said to have a soft and articulate sound with smooth highs.
As you move through the numbers toward Alnico V, the magnets become progressively stronger, producing more gain and adding more midrange “bite” to the tone of the guitar. Many metal guitarists favor Alnico V magnets for their high output and aggressive tones.
Our research indicates that alnico numbers progress to as high as 12. Alnico VII is in some pickups, but this is rare.
Alnico vs Ceramic Magnets
To crown a winner in our Alnico vs Ceramic Magnets shootout, we would need a way to accurately compare the two, which is not an easy task. Alnico seems to be the popular favorite, but, on the other hand, there is no shortage of popular recordings that feature ceramic pickups.
The best thing to do is to use your ears to decide for yourself.
Examples of ceramic pickups
- Dimarzio Crunchlab
- Dimarzio Super Distortion
- Seymour Duncan Hot Rails
- Seymour Duncan Little ’59
- Fralin Split Blade
Examples of alnico pickups
- Dimarzio Red Velvet
- Dimarzio Twang King
- Seymour Duncan Live Wire 2
- Seymour Duncan Red Devil
- Fralin Blues Special
- Fralin Jazzmaster
Conclusion
Unfortunately, there is no clear winner in our alnico vs ceramic magnets debate. There are just too many completely subjective variables to make a definitive decision. If forced into it, we might recommend alnico, only because ceramic is the magnet of choice in cheap pickups that often sound bad. Since alnico is more expensive, it is usually used to create better quality products.
We recommend that you try out as many different pickups as you can. Take notice, but don’t pay too much attention to the magnet. Listen to the sound.
We hope that we have helped you learn a little bit more about the difference between ceramic and alnico magnets. If you enjoyed reading and have an opinion about who wins the alnico vs ceramic magnets showdown, we’d love to hear it. If you’ve found this article helpful, please feel free to share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter. For more articles on guitar electronics, visit humbuckersoup.com.