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What is Hard Iron?

Published in Magnet Materials 1 min read

Hard iron is a material used in the creation of permanent magnets.

How Hard Iron Works in Permanent Magnets

The key characteristic of hard iron is its ability to retain magnetism after exposure to a magnetic field. The process involves:

  1. Exposure to a Magnetic Field: A piece of hard iron is placed within a strong magnetic field.
  2. Domain Alignment: The magnetic domains within the hard iron align with the direction of the applied magnetic field.
  3. Retention of Alignment: Even after the external magnetic field is removed, the domains in hard iron retain a significant portion of their alignment. This retained alignment is what gives the material its permanent magnetic properties.

In essence, hard iron's ability to "remember" the imposed magnetic field makes it suitable for creating permanent magnets.