General Information

Collectively known as Rare Earth magnets, Samarium Cobalt (SmCo) and Neodymium Iron Boron (NdFeB) magnets are alloys of the Lanthanide group of elements. Rare Earth magnets are the most advanced commercialized permanent magnet materials today. SmCo magnets are available in a number of different grades that span a wide range of properties and application requirements.

Samarium Cobalt magnets (also known as SmCo magnets) are permanent magnet. A big advantage of SmCo magnets is that they can operate at temperatures up to 300 degrees Centigrade. SmCo magnets are widely used in applications in which high operating temperature and high corrosion and oxidation resistance are crucial, e.g.in auto, marine and medical applications.

Samarium Cobalt (SmCo) magnets exist in two forms. The first is Sm1Co5 (SmCo 1:5) and this has a maximum energy product of between 14 and 24 MGOe. The second, and more common form is Sm2Co17 (SmCo 2:17) and this has a maximum energy product of between 22 and 32 MGOe. The main Sm2Co17 alloy is around 35% Samarium (Sm) and 60% Cobalt (Co) with the balance being from varying amounts of Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Hafnium (Hf) and Zirconium (Zr). Praseodymium (Pr) may also be used. Sm1Co5 is made of only Sm and Co and has excellent corrosion resistance. We offer 29 grades of sintered SmCo and 7 main grades of bonded SmCo. SmCo26 (a 2:17 variety) is the most commonly used grade.

Samarium Cobalt magnet is able to withstand higher temperatures than other rare earth magnets with high energy products ranging to 30MGOe. The Sm2Co17 series have better temperature property as compared to the Sm1Co5 series. The Curie temperature for Sm2Co17 could reach as high as 800. Temperature coefficients for SmCo material is of -0.04%/°C on Br and -0.30%/°C on iHc.

SmCo magnets are brittle and machining operations should be performed prior to magnetization, using diamond tools. Prysmagis equipped to fabricate these materials to blueprint specifications.