We are all used to such a straightforward subject as a magnet. In everyday life, it is often used by people due to its ability to attract small objects of a certain metal. In addition, magnets are widely used in many fields, for example, in the production of electricity. In fact, electrification would not have been possible without them. Magnets are the core of electromagnets - devices that generate electricity. But that is not all. In our bodies, biocurrents also give rise to magnetic lines of force. Our planet, it can be said, is a huge blue magnet, because it generates a huge force of attraction. There are areas in which it is simply necessary to use a strong magnetic field. For example, raising wrecks, thermonuclear fusion and much more.
People in ancient times learned about magnets, their properties and began to use them. However, in those days it was just pieces of magnetic iron ore, or natural magnets, as they are now called. The first monuments of acquaintance of people with them were found during excavations in the countries of Central America. These were sculptures carved from huge blocks of this breed, because of their shape, the researchers called them "fat boys." Magnetic lines of force connect these figures and seem to come out of their abdomen. In addition, the natural magnet and its properties are described in ancient Chinese manuscripts. This substance, iron ore, refers to iron oxides and has the ability to attract various objects of iron or steel. It has been used for centuries. However, over time, the quality of the iron ore ceased to satisfy human needs. With the advent of production, the question arose of how to make the magnet stronger and more reliable. Gradually, manufacturing technologies for artificial magnets appeared.
Have you thought about how to make a magnet? Are they manufactured exclusively in the factory or can they be built in a makeshift way? In this article, we’ll talk about how to make a magnet at home.
So, let's start, as they say, from the stove. All materials that have at least some ability to magnetize are either hard magnetic or soft magnetic. What do these names mean? The former quickly lose their ability to attract objects, while the latter retain them, and, as a rule, for a long time. Before you make a magnet, to make it you need to choose the right material. As can be seen from the above, not every material is suitable for this.
If you take a strong magnet and hold it with a metal bar, then this is enough to magnetize this object. Also, if several times quickly open and close steel massive scissors, they have the property of attracting small metal objects. And this acquired property can be used repeatedly, for example, to get small steel parts out of the cracks.
Usually a permanent magnet, which was made by magnetizing a piece of iron, does not retain its properties for very long. As a rule, it is enough to heat it to a certain temperature or hit it on some hard surface - and it will not attract anything more.
Magnetic properties change with the addition of certain substances to the metal. We are talking about those additives that turn iron into steel. Steel, which can be hardened, is usually a magnetically hard substance, which means it can be the starting material for creating a magnet. As a rule, stainless steel is not able to harden and does not attract metals.
Now we directly approach the answer to the question: how to make a magnet? It is not so difficult. How to make a powerful magnet? To do this, you will need: a bar of hardened steel and an inductor. In size, the piece of steel should be such as to fit completely inside your coil. In case the current you are using is from the mains, include a fuse in the circuit to prevent a short circuit.
Not only iron or steel is used to give an object the ability to attract metals. To do this, sometimes take alnico - a special alloy made of several metals. But most often ferrites are used for this purpose. Ferrites are iron oxides in the form of a powder that is mixed with certain additives. Ferrite magnets are the most convenient, they can be given any shape. However, the most powerful are those magnets that were made from a special mixture of neodymium, iron and boron.