Magnets or permanent magnets are materials which create sustained magnetic fields after getting magnetized. Since the discovery of Lodestones in the 6th century BC, permanent magnets find different applications. The name “magnet” comes from Magnesia, in Greece where the first lodestone was mined. First recorded use of a permanent magnet material is the magnetic device called “south pointer (compass)” which is nothing else but a lodestone shaped of a spoon.

Rapid development in permanent magnet research

First commercially available artificial permanent magnet was made from a Co-Cr-W containing steel alloy in early 20th century. Commercialization of permanent magnetic steel opened up a new era and rapid developments were observed with the invention of ferrites, Alnicos and rare-earth permanent magnets. As a result of these developments, the energy which can be stored in a permanent magnetic material increased significantly leading to the miniaturization of the permanent magnets.

Today permanent magnets are used in wide applications like hard disk drives, generators, electric motors, headphones, speakers, sensors, etc.