Ferromagnetic materials

Paramagnetic Materials Diamagnetic Materials

(a ) They are strongly attracted by a magnet.

(b) A freely suspended ferromagnetic rod quickly sets itself along the direction of external magnetic.

© When they are placed in a magnetic field lines prefer to pass through them.

This behaviour indicates that

(i) Field within the sampleIs much more than the magnetic intensity i.e. permeability is much more than unity.( B >>H or B/H >> 1or μ>>1).

(ii) Flux density (B) inside a

(a) They are weakly attracted by a magnet.

(b) A freely suspended paramagnetic rod slowly sets itself along the direction of external magnetic field

© When they are placed in a magnetic field, most of the

magnetic field lines prefer to pass through them.

This behaviour indicates that

(i) Field within the sampleIs more than the magnetic intensity i.e. permeability is much more than unity.( B >H or B/H > 1or μ>1).

(a) They are weakly repelled by a magnet.

(b) A freely suspended diamagnetic rod slowly sets itself at right angle to the direction of external magnetic field .

© When they are placed in a magnetic field, the magnetic field lines do not prefer to pass through them

This behaviour indicates that

(i) Field within the sampleIs decreased to a very small value i.e. permeability is always less than unity.( B <H or B/H < 1or μ<1).

(ii) Flux density (B) inside a diamagnetic material is less than in air.

Magnetism

ferromagnetic material is much larger than in air.

(iii) The sample gets strongly magnetised in the direction of magnetising field.

(iv) Magnetisation (M) has large positive value.

(v) Susceptibility has a large positive value.Χm = M/H ; M is large +ve, so Χm >>1

(d) They obey Curie’s law. At a certain temperature i.e. Curie point or temperature, ferromagnetic properties disappear and material starts behaving as paramagnetic.

(e) If a finely powdered ferromagnetic material in a watch glass is placed on closely spaced magnetic poles, the effect is observed. It shows that such materials move from weaker to stronger magnetic field.

(ii) Flux density (B) inside a paramagnetic material is larger than in air.

(iii) The sample gets weakly magnetised in the direction of magnetising field.

(iv) Magnetisation (M) has small positive value.

(v) Susceptibility has a small positive valueΧm = M/H ; M is small +ve, so Χm >0

(d) They obey Curie’s law. They are badly affected with the rise in temperature. Due to rise in temperature, they lose magnetic property.

(e) If a paramagnetic liquid in a watch glass is placed on closely spaced magnetic poles, and then on widely spaced magnetic poles, the effect is observed. In the first case, there is a rise in the middle but in the second case there is a depression in the middle. It shows that such materials move from weaker to

(iii) The sample gets weakly magnetised in the direction opposite to the direction of magnetising field.

(iv) Magnetisation (M) has small negative value.

(v) Susceptibility has a small negative valueΧm = M/H ; M is small -ve, so Χm <0

(d) They do not obey Curie’s law. Normally their magnetic properties do not change with temperature.

(e) If a diamagnetic liquid in a watch glass is placed on closely spaced magnetic poles and then widely spaced magnetic poles, the effect is observed as shown in figure. In the first case, there is a depression in the middle but in the second case there is a rise in the middle. It shows that such materials move from stronger to weaker magnetic field.

(f) When a sample of ferromagnetic material in a very finely powdered form is placed in U- tube and magnetic field is applied across one limb, the level rises in that limb.

(g) Intensity of magnetisation (I) or magnetisation (M) of ferromagnetism substance is large, positive and varies non linearly with the applied magnetic field intensity (H)

stronger magnetic field.

(f) When a sample of paramagnetic liquid is put in U- tube and magnetic field is applied to across one limb, the level rises in that limb.

g) Intensity of magnetisation (I) or magnetisation (M) of paramagnetic substance is small, positive and varies directly proportional to the applied magnetic field applied magnetic field intensity (H)

(f) When a sample of diamagnetic liquid is put in U- tube and magnetic field is applied across one limb, the level falls in that limb

g) Intensity of magnetisation (I) or magnetisation (M) of a diamagnetic substance is small, negative and directly proportional to the applied magnetic field intensity (H)

Magnetisation Curve (Hysteresis * loop)

Consider a solenoid having ferromagnetic (Iron) core inside it. Current in it is to be increased and decreased in the following steps:

1. To start with, the iron core is placed in a solenoid having no current. Now, current flowing in the solenoid is increased in steps, so that the magnetic field inside the solenoid increase gradually. This magnetic field is known as magnetising field (H) as it magnetises the iron core. As the value of H increases, the magnetic flux density (B) also increases. The variation of B with H is represented by a curve OA as shown in figure. Further increase in current in the solenoid increases the value of H but the value of B (magnetic flux density or magnetic field in the iron core) does not change. Thus, point A is known as Saturation point corresponding to which B is maximum.

2. Now, reduce the value of current in the solenoid till the value of H becomes zero. The iron core placed inside the solenoid begins to demagnetise i.e., the value of B decreases along the path AG. When H =0,B 0 but B = OG . It shows that the magnetic material (say iron core) retains magnetism even if the magnetising field (H) is reduced to zero. The magnetism retained by the magnetic material even when the magnetising field is reduce to zero is called residual magnetism of the material. The property of magnetic

material to retain magnetism even in the absence of the magnetising field is known as retentivity or remanence.

3. Now, reverse the direction of flow of the current in the solenoid, so that the magnetising field (H) acts in the opposite direction (say along negative x-axis). The magnetic field B becomes zero corresponding to the value of H = OC. The magnetising field (H) needed to completely demagnetise the magnetic material is known as coercivity.

4. The value of current in the solenoid is further increased in the same direction, so the value of H increases further. The value of B also increases in the reverse direction (i.e., along negative y – axis). In other words, magnetic material begins to magnetise in the opposite direction till it is completely magnetised. The variation of B with H is represented by the curve CD.

5. The direction of the current is again reversed till the value of H = O. Corresponding to H = O, the magnetisation of the material = OE.

6. To completely demagnetise the magnetic material, the current is increased till the magnetic field (B) becomes zero. The material is demagnetises along EF. On the further increase in the current in the solenoid, value of H increases. The variation of B with H is represented by FA.

The curve AGCDEFA is known a Hysteresis loop which is the result of a cycle of magnetisation and demagnetisation of the magnetic material.

Permanent Magnets

The magnets which retain their ferromagnetic properties for a long time at room temperature are called permanent magnets.

Steel is a common material used to make permanent magnets. It has high residual magnetism (retentivity). It has very high coercivity i.e. hysteresis loop is wide. Although area of hysteresis loop for steel is large yet it is of no importance because a permanent magnet is supposed to retain the magnetism and and is not required to undergo cycle of magnetisation and demagnetisation. Retentivity of steel is slightly smaller than that of soft iron but coercivity of soft iron but coercitivity of soft iron is very less which makes soft iron unfit for becoming permanent magnet. Many alloys are also used to make permanent magnets:

(i) Cobalt steel. It contains cobalt, tungsten, carbon and iron.

(ii) Alnico* It contains aluminium, nickel, cobalt, copper and iron. It is brittle.

(iii) Ticonal : It contains tin , cobalt, nickel and aluminium.

Permanent magnets are easily made by rubbing a ferromagnetic material say iron bar with a magnet in a particular fashion. Permanent magnets can also be made by placing hard ferromagnetic bar in a current carrying solenoid. The magnetic field of solenoid, magnetises the ferromagnetic material.

Material for permanent magnet should have:

(i) high permeability

(ii) high coercivity

(iii) high retentivity

Electromagnets

A ferromagnetic material placed inside a current carrying solenoid acts as an electromagnet. Soft iron rod placed inside a current carrying solenoid behaves as an electromagnet.

Soft iron is a ferromagnetic substance and has high permeability and low retentivity .

When the current in a solenoid is switched on, the soft iron rod placed inside it is magnetised at once. On the other hand, it ceases to be a magnet, as soon as current in the solenoid is switched off.

Uses

Cores of generators, motors and transformers are magnetised and demagnetised number of times, when a.c. flows through them. Hence, the materials having narrow hysteresis loops should be used to prepare these cores.

Silicon iron and mumetal (an alloy of Ni, Fe, Cu and Cr) are used to form cores of transformer. Materials for making electromagnets should have:

(i) high permeability

(ii) low coercivity

(iii) low retentivity

Factors deciding the strength of an electromagnet:

(i) Nature of material : Soft iron is best suited for an electro-magnet. Material of an electromagnet should have thin and long hysteresis loop. They should have low retentivity. The material should magnetise quickly. They should have high permeability. Silicon iron and mumetal are also used to make electromagnet.

(ii) Electric current : Strength of current in the solenoid gives the required magnetising force to an electromagnet. Weak currents may not magnetise the sample properly.

(iii) Number of turns per unit length of solenoid : Higher the number of turns, higher is the magnetising field. High field is required for strong electromagnets.

(iv) Temperature. Magnetism is lost at high temperatures. This fact was properly studied by Curie.

Uses : Electromagnets are usually found in lifting magnets, relays, controllers, circuit breakers, electric valves, electric bells, loud speakers, telephone diaphragms, motor brakes etc.