Definition

Noun: * A high-strength permanent magnet alloy. "Alnico" is a trade name for a family of iron alloys that are primarily composed of aluminum, nickel, and cobalt, along with iron and sometimes additional elements like copper or titanium. These alloys are known for their ability to retain strong magnetism.

Usage

• Alnico magnets were historically crucial in many electronic devices.
• The speaker in the vintage guitar uses an alnico magnet to produce its distinctive sound.
• This sensor relies on a small piece of alnico for its operation.

Advanced Usage

• Grades: Alnico magnets are often classified by grades (e.g., Alnico 5, Alnico 8), which indicate their specific composition and magnetic properties, such as coercivity (resistance to demagnetization) and remanence (strength of remaining magnetism).
• "Cast" vs. "Sintered": Alnico can be manufactured by casting (pouring molten alloy into a mold) or sintering (heating powdered alloy), with cast alnico typically offering superior magnetic performance.

Variants and Related Words

• Permanent Magnet (n): A magnet that retains its magnetic field without an external power source. Alnico is one type of permanent magnet material.
• Ferromagnetic (adj): Referring to materials, like alnico, that can exhibit strong magnetic properties.

Synonyms

• Permanent magnet alloy
• Hard magnetic material

Related Terms and Contexts

• Demagnetization Curve: A key graph used to characterize the performance of alnico and other permanent magnets.
• Alternatives: In modern applications, alnico has been largely supplanted by other materials like rare-earth magnets (e.g., neodymium, samarium-cobalt) for their higher strength, though alnico is still valued for its thermal stability and distinctive tonal qualities in audio applications.

Noun

1. trade name for an alloy used to make high-energy permanent magnets; contains aluminum and iron and nickel plus cobalt or copper or titanium