Magnets are a common substance in our daily life, and it has the property of attracting metals such as iron, cobalt, nickel, etc. So, how are magnets made?This article will introduce the process of making magnets in detail, from the ore to the finished product.
1. Ore mining and beneficiation.
Magnetite is a mineral with magnetic properties and is the main raw material for making magnets. First of all, the ore needs to be mined and beneficiated. During the mining process, the ore needs to be mined from the ground by means of blasting, excavation and other means. Beneficiation is the screening of mined ore to extract valuable magnetite.
2. Crushing and grinding of ore.
The extracted magnetite needs to be crushed and ground. Crushing is the crushing of large pieces of ore into small pieces to facilitate subsequent grinding. Pulverization is to grind the crushed ore into a powdered form, which can increase the surface area of the ore and increase the efficiency of subsequent reactions.
3. Reduction reaction.
An appropriate amount of carbon and reducing agent is added to the magnetite ground into powder to carry out the reduction reaction. The reduction reaction is to reduce the iron in the ore to iron element, and at the same time produce carbon dioxide and other gases. This process needs to be carried out at high temperatures, generally reaching more than 1000 meters.
Fourth, carburizing reaction.
After the reduction reaction, a carburizing reaction is required. Carburizing is a process in which iron and carbon are mixed together and reacted at high temperatures to form cementite. Cementite is a magnetic substance and is an important raw material for making magnets.
5. Pressing and sintering.
The resulting cementite powder is pressed to make a green body of a certain shape. During the pressing process, an appropriate amount of binder needs to be added to ensure the strength and stability of the green body. The pressed body needs to be sintered to further improve its hardness and strength. The sintering process needs to be carried out at high temperatures, generally reaching high temperatures above 900 °C.
6. Follow-up treatment.
The sintered magnet needs to be post-processed, such as cutting, grinding, polishing, etc. These treatments can make the surface of the magnet smoother and more aesthetically pleasing, and at the same time, it can also improve the performance of the magnet.
7. Quality inspection and packaging.
Finally, the quality inspection of the made magnet is required. The test content includes magnetic properties, hardness, strength, etc. Only magnets that meet quality standards can be packaged and sold.
The process of making a magnet is a complex process that requires multiple steps to complete. From the mining and beneficiation of the ore to the subsequent processing and quality inspection of the finished product, every link needs to be strictly controlled to ensure the quality and performance of the final product. With the continuous progress of science and technology, the manufacturing process of magnets is also constantly improving and perfecting, providing more convenience and possibilities for our life and industrial production. Magnets