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Alnico Rod Magnets

Magnetics.net.au has Alnico Rod Magnets Brisbane in an extensive range of sizes and can source any other size for you, should you be unable to find what you need in our current range. Alnico Magnets have an extraordinary temperature stability.

The History of Alnico Magnets

The story of Alnico magnets is thought to be a new 20th century story. Generally speaking, it was in the early 1900s, when scientists began studying other magnetic materials than those based on iron and steel. And, by the 1930s, they had fashioned some of the first powerful Alnico alloy permanent magnets. By the 1970’s ceramic magnets where created, using rare earth elements. As a result, these   were more powerful. Further advances in magnets were made during the 1980s.

However, this is not where the story begins for Magnets and even Alnico magnets. It really starts as early as the Greeks. Naturally occurring magnetic lodestone was studied and used by the Greeks sometime in around 500 B.C. In fact, ‘magnet’ comes from the Greek word magnetis lithos. Also known as ‘the stone of Magnesia’. Which refers to the region on the Aegean coast. Consequently the place where these stones where found, now in modern day Turkey.

The Stone That Leads

Incidentally, the word ‘lodestone’ which we use today, is the Anglo-Saxon word meaning “leading Stone” or literally “the stone that leads”. It is thought, the magnetic stone was first use by the Anglo-Saxons as a compass, hence the name. However, it may have been brought over by the Viking ships and adopted by the Anglo-Saxons. Somewhere round 900 AD to 1100 AD.

Fast forward to the UK in 1600. This, was when English scientist William Gilbert confirmed his earlier observations regarding magnetic poles and concluded that the Earth was a magnet.  Fast forward again, to 1820. And, the Dutch scientist Hans Christian Oersted discovered the relationship between electricity and magnetism. Furthermore, French physicist Andre Ampere expanded even further upon this discovery in 1821. Finally back to 1930 and the formulation of Alnico Magnets.

From the Ancient to Modern day

In summary, we can trace modern day magnet production to ancient day. With scientists and engineers experimenting and working out new ways to make better and more powerful magnets. In today’s world, magnetic materials can be made to meet many different performance requirements. For thousands of different applications and industries. As we move further into new technology. It will be interesting to see what the magnet world has in store.