Ferrite (ceramic)

Cheap, weak, and almost impossible to damage with weather. Most loudspeakers and holding magnets are these.

Materials › Ferrite (ceramic)
FormulaSrFe / BaFe
Relative strengthLow
Max operating temperatureup to ~250 °C
Relative costLowest
Corrosion resistanceExcellent

The default when strength is not the constraint

A fraction of the price of rare-earth material. If the job needs a modest force and the size is not critical, this is usually the right answer and specifying neodymium is over-engineering.

Weather is not a problem

It does not rust. Outdoor and marine applications often use ferrite for that reason alone, accepting a larger magnet in exchange for never worrying about plating failure.

Loses strength as it gets cold

Unusual among these materials: ferrite weakens at low temperatures rather than high ones. Worth knowing if the equipment lives outdoors in winter.

These figures are the ranges the trade works to and they move with grade, geometry and manufacturer. For anything load-bearing or safety-related, work from the datasheet for the exact part.

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