Magnetic Materials
Magnetic Materials
Nichia's SmFeN powder has an extremely small particle size of 3µm in diameter without using a pulverization process and therefore has outstanding compound fluidity. Because of its fluidity, this powder is suitable for complex shape molding and integrated injection molding.
With Nichia's SmFeN, customers can freely design their own original magnets.
Features of Nichia's SmFeN compound
Resistant to Rust
This compound is composed of 3µm spherical particles. Due to its excellent insulation, it is resistant to rust even in harsh environments.
Long-Term Stability
(Water Resistance/Heat Resistance)
Maintains magnetic force under high temperature and hot water. No plating/covering is required.
Design Flexibility
It can be integrally molded into yokes and shafts, and complex shapes can be created. The material has a high degree of freedom for both orientation and design.
Excellent Shock Resistance
It is a material that combines the strength of metal with the flexibility of resin. It can be designed according to customer's requests (e.g. chemical resistance, heat shock resistance, etc.).
High electrical resistivity
The resistivity is more than 10,000,000Ω・m. There is almost no heat generation due to electric eddy currents.
Easily Recycled
Can be recycled by re-using the sprue/runner. Customers can reduce costs and utilize resources effectively by reducing the amount of waste.
*The sprue runner is pulverized and used.
Injection molding compound
Nichia's SmFeN, is a pellet-shaped injection molding compound made by mixing anisotropic Sm2Fe17N3 magnetic powder with a resin. The products shown here are just a few examples of Nichia's products. Nichia makes the best compounds for its customers.
A series
Standard series using polyamide 12 as the base resin. This series has been highly acclaimed by customers for its corrosion resistance, recyclability and single-piece formability, and has the most sales.
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.
RA series
Compound with polypropylene as the base resin that is excellent for its heat/water resistance. It has excellent durability and corrosion resistance.
E series
This compound is excellent for impact resistance and is made of polyamide 12 and elastomer as the base resin. This has a proven track record of single piece formability with metal and is excellent for its cold thermal shock properties.
L series
Higher magnetic force compound with modified polyamide 12 as the base resin. It has the highest Br of all SmFeN compound, with excellent heat resistance.
Mechanical Properties Map
Magnetic Grade Matrix
Example characteristics of each type are shown below.
| Series Resin | Grade Type | Magnetic Property | Physical Property | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Br | Hcj | Hcb | BHmax | BH Curve |
Density | Flexural Strength | Flexural Modulus | ||
| kG | kOe | kOe | MGOe | g/cm3 | MPa | GPa | |||
| T | kA/m | kA/m | kJ/m3 | ||||||
| A Series PA12 |
A12 | 7.4 | 11.7 | 6.5 | 12.6 | LINK | 4.8 | 95 | 13 |
| 0.74 | 930 | 520 | 100 | ||||||
| A14 | 7.8 | 10.9 | 6.8 | 14.0 | LINK | 4.9 | 100 | 16 | |
| 0.78 | 870 | 540 | 112 | ||||||
| AT series PA12 |
A12T | 7.4 | 15.4 | 6.8 | 12.9 | LINK | 4.8 | 90 | 16 |
| 0.74 | 1230 | 540 | 103 | ||||||
| A14T | 7.7 | 15.0 | 7.0 | 13.9 | LINK | 4.9 | 90 | 15 | |
| 0.77 | 1190 | 560 | 111 | ||||||
| RA series PP |
RA12T | 7 | 14.2 | 6.5 | 11.6 | LINK | 4.6 | 60 | 9 |
| 0.7 | 1130 | 520 | 92 | ||||||
| E series PA12+Elastomer |
E14 | 7.6 | 10.8 | 6.7 | 13.6 | LINK | 4.8 | 90 | 8 |
| 0.76 | 860 | 540 | 109 | ||||||
| L Series Denatured PA12 |
L16 | 8.1 | 15.3 | 7.5 | 15.4 | LINK | 5.0 | 87 | 19 |
| 0.81 | 1220 | 590 | 122 | ||||||
Technical Information
It injects and behaves like a general-purpose resin.
That is Nichia's SmFeN.
The appearance of the Nichia’s SmFeN magnetic powder is spherical as shown in the photo. Nichia's build-up process, which incorporates the wet precipitation reaction technology Nichia has developed for its phosphor products, has enabled Nichia to create a new type of magnetic powder that does not require fine grinding. This magnetic powder is used to make the Nichia SmFeN compound, which can be injection molded as if it were a general-purpose resin. Nichia encourages customers to try this product and see the difference it can make.
Able to reduce processes since no coating is necessary.
Pulverization free
The Nichia SmFeN magnetic powder is made using a build-up process, which means there is no grinding involved.
This is the reason why it is rust-free. Since no grinding is involved, there is very little fines and the source of rust is removed from the process. “Crush free” = “rust free”, Nichia's simple and unique technology.
No Electricity!
The Nichia SmFeN compound contains a large amount of magnetic black marble powder as filler; however, as shown in the picture, each and every one of the black marble particles is dispersed and independently standing in the resin. This keeps the electricity out, which is the second most important aspect of Nichia's original rustproofing technology.
Effective use of sprues and runners
“Are companies convinced that sprues and runners cannot be recycled because they are magnets?”
Nichia's SmFeN has very little deterioration in its magnetic properties even after repeated pulverization. The reason is the hard and delicate spherical shape of the powder.
Since the powder is not mechanically destroyed when crushed, it can be recycled while maintaining excellent performance. In some cases, the disposal of sprues and runners can be reduced to zero, resulting in “complete recycling”. In the past, Nichia has had customers who have reduced their disposal of sprues and runners to zero, resulting in “complete recycling”.
Recycling Procedure
Nichia will propose the best recycling method for customer's products.
Plastic Magnets Suitable for Single-piece Molding - Unprecedented Strength of Molded Products
Ever had the experience of having a single-piece molded product break during use?
The SmFeN magnetic powder, made using a wet precipitation reaction, has an extremely fine particle size of 3μm and a large surface area, which means it has a large contact area with the resin binder, resulting in excellent adhesive strength. The bending strength of a molded product can reach 100 MPa. The material is also resistant to cracking and tresses even under temperature changes such as heat cycles, making it suitable for use in harsh environments.
[Example]Rotor for motor
(single-piece molding with iron core)
Heat cycle: -20°C~100°C 500 cycles
Improved product without cracks
Improved product with cracksThe challenge of world's thinnest magnet
“It's impossible to make such a thin magnet,” or “Sintered magnets are too expensive to process.” ・・・・・・Nichia's SmFeN defies these ideas. Nichia's SmFeN is suitable for thin shapes due to its amazing formability that can be handled like general-purpose resin. It is made from spherical and fine magnetic powder, which has less fine powder. It can penetrate into any thin space. The product has a wall thickness of 0.4mm.
| Shape | Size |
|---|---|
| Cylindrical | Φ13×Φ7.4×6.5t |
| Φ6×Φ3×5.7t | |
| Φ3×Φ1×1.6t | |
| Φ2.7×Φ1.5×2.3t | |
| Φ2.7×Φ1.5×2.5t | |
| Φ2.7×Φ1.5×5.6t | |
| Ring | Φ27.4×Φ23.4×1t |
| Φ23.4×Φ16.4×1t | |
| Plate | 50×50×1t |
| 10×100×1t | |
| Tile | 0.5mmThickness |
| string | Φ0.7 |