Magnetic Materials (SmFeN)
A New Magnetic Material That Increases Design FreedomSmFeN, a New Choice for Magnet Design
High Shape and Magnetic Design Flexibility ｜ No Coating Required ｜ High Magnetic Properties (0.85T) ｜ Heavy Rare Earth-Free ｜ High Reliability
Nichia's magnetic material is an anisotropic Samarium Iron Nitride (SmFeN) bonded magnet that does not use Neodymium (Nd) or heavy rare earth elements. It offers a new alternative for material procurement and magnet design. By combining magnetic powder and resin, Nichia's bonded magnets feature high flexibility in shape and magnetic design, enabling designs not limited by magnet shape and optimal magnetic performance tailored to applications. Leveraging core technologies cultivated as a chemical manufacturer since its founding, Nichia delivers its proprietary high-performance bonded magnet material—contributing to creating high-performance magnets and advancing the technology of tomorrow.
What is an Anisotropic Bonded Magnet?
What Can Be Achieved with Nichia's SmFeN Bonded Magnets
Broadening Application Fields Supported by Superior Magnetic Properties
Nichia's SmFeN bonded magnets achieve the highest level of magnetic properties for bonded magnets, with a maximum flux density of 0.85T (prototype under development).
Design Flexibility
Magnet structure can be customized to fit specific product designs.
Streamlined Manufacturing Process
Magnets can be molded as integrated units, reducing assembly steps.
No coating is required—even for applications in underwater environments.
Reduced Impact on Surrounding Materials
Advanced magnetic field design minimizes the influence on nearby components.
Features of Nichia's SmFeN Anisotropic Bonded Magnet Material
Nichia's SmFeN offers high performance amongst bonded magnets
Nichia's Samarium Iron Nitride (SmFeN) anisotropic bonded magnet material boasts outstanding properties among anisotropic bonded magnet materials. With superior magnetic properties and environmental resistance, this material enables applications for motors, sensors, and various other uses that bonded magnets were previously thought unsuitable for. The exceptional performance is supported by Nichia's unique magnetic powder. Backed by Nichia's long-standing expertise as a chemical manufacturer specializing in powder technology, this foundation leads to continued advancements in performance. Nichia SmFeN bonded magnets contribute to the growing needs for electrification and energy conservation.
Nichia's Core Technology for Achieving High-Performance Magnetic Powder
Graph 1. Radar Chart Comparing the Characteristics of Bonded Magnets
Bonded Magnet with Top-class Magnetic Force
Nichia's SmFeN bonded magnet achieves an industry-leading magnetic properties of 0.85T (prototype under development).
Compared to conventional bonded magnets, this enables significant downsizing of magnetic components. Furthermore, by optimizing the magnetic flux design to concentrate the flux only where needed, it can be used in ways comparable to NdFeB sintered magnets. With the same volume, it achieves about 20% weight reduction compared to NdFeB sintered magnets. Nichia is aiming for even higher performance in the future.
Excellent Corrosion Resistance – Even Underwater
Nichia's SmFeN magnets defy the common belief that rare-earth magnets require coating.
Nichia's unique magnetic powder manufacturing process allows for excellent corrosion resistance, even underwater, eliminating the need for coatings or coverings on the magnet itself. This means greater design flexibility, with no need to account for additional thickness from coatings or encapsulation.
Salt Water Corrosion Test
High Heat Resistance
Despite being free of heavy rare-earth elements, Nichia's SmFeN magnets are ideal for applications requiring thermal stability.
Initial demagnetization at 150℃ in air is just 3%, outperforming sintered NdFeB magnets (even the heavy rare-earth types). After 3,000 hours at 150℃, total demagnetization (including initial drop) remains just 5%, demonstrating long-term magnetic stability.
Magnetic Flux Retention Ratio at 150℃ in Air
High Electrical Resistivity
Nichia's proprietary magnetic powder boasts high insulation and uniform dispersion within resin, giving Nichia's SmFeN bonded magnets a resistivity over 100,000 Ω·m—one of the best among bonded magnets.
This effectively suppresses eddy current losses, reducing excessive heat generation and magnetic field loss, and contributes to improved motor efficiency and energy savings.
Long-term Stability in Magnetic Properties
Nichia's SmFeN magnets provide reliable performance even in harsh environments with significant temperature fluctuations.
Nichia's unique heat-resistant coating applied to each magnetic particle protects them from oxidation and deterioration. The temperature coefficients of Br (-0.07 %/℃) and Hcj (-0.37 %/℃) ensure superior magnetic stability across a wide range of temperatures.
Surface Magnetic Flux Density Retention Rate in Response to Temperature Variations
Permeance Coefficient ≒ 1
Design Flexibility with Excellent Squareness
Nichia's SmFeN bonded magnets overturn the conventional belief that "bonded magnets have poor squareness, making product design difficult."
One reason for the poor squareness of bonded magnets is that the performance of each individual particle of magnetic powder varies. Nichia uses a proprietary manufacturing method to control the size and performance of the particles, ensuring uniformity. This method suppresses variations in the magnetic powder and achieves excellent squareness.
Products
SmFeN Compounds for Plastic Bonded Magnets
Nichia offers a variety of anisotropic SmFeN compounds for plastic bonded magnets to suit different operating temperatures and environments. Contact Nichia for more information or to discuss specific requirements.
A Series
Standard series using polyamide 12 as the base resin.
AT Series
Heat resistant compound with high intrinsic coercive force. It has the highest heat resistance of all compounds that use polyamide 12 as the base resin.
RT Series
Compound with polypropylene as the base resin that is excellent for its heat/water resistance.
Note: For inquiries regarding the under development product (Br: 0.85T), contact Nichia.
Magnetic Grade Matrix
Example characteristics of each type are shown below.
| Series | Resin | Magnetic Property | Physical Property | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Br | Hcj | Hcb | BHmax | Flexural Strength | Flexural Modulus | Density | ||
| kG | kOe | kOe | MGOe | MPa | GPa | g/cm3 | ||
| T | kA/m | kA/m | kJ/m3 | |||||
| A Series | PA12 | 7.8 | 10.9 | 6.8 | 14.0 | 100 | 16 | 4.86 |
| 0.78 | 870 | 540 | 112 | |||||
| AT Series | PA12 | 7.6 | 15.0 | 7.0 | 13.8 | 90 | 15 | 4.81 |
| 0.76 | 1195 | 560 | 110 | |||||
| RT Series | PP | 7.1 | 15.9 | 6.8 | 12.5 | 70 | 10 | 4.50 |
| 0.71 | 1270 | 540 | 99 | |||||
Technical Information
Nichia, The Professionals in Powder Technology
Nichia's heritage as a chemical manufacturer has led to the development of innovative magnet technologies.
Heat resistance, corrosion resistance, and mechanical strength have long been recognized as key challenges in magnet applications. At the heart of Nichia's approach to addressing these challenges is its proprietary magnetic powder technology, the foundation of the company's unique strengths. Each particle of Nichia's magnetic powder is spherical, small, and highly uniform, with a proprietary surface treatment applied to every particle. This unique magnetic powder is bringing significant change to the world of bonded magnets and rare-earth magnets, redefining what these materials can achieve.
Q: What is an anisotropic bonded magnet?
Anisotropic magnets are characterized by the fact that each particle has a specific direction (easy axis of magnetization) in which it is easily magnetized. By aligning (orienting) the particles in this direction using an external magnetic field during the molding process, it is possible to impart strong magnetic force in a specific direction. This orientation design allows the optimization of the direction and strength of the magnetic force according to the application, making it possible to "generate the required magnetic force where it is needed."
Contact
For any questions or inquiries regarding Nichia's Magnetic Materials, use the contact form via the link below.
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