Glossary of Terms

Pole on the Adhesive Side / Pole on the Countersunk Side

This indicates that the magnetic pole specified in the product parameters will be located on the particular side of the magnet after installation.

This information is important for users who want to install two magnets so that they attract each other. In this case, one magnet should have the N pole on the adhesive side, while the other should have the S pole on the adhesive side.

This parameter is available for products such as [neodymium cylinder magnets with adhesive backing].

Thread

The thread size is important information for users who want to match a threaded hole with a specific screw, hook, or threaded rod.

In such cases, magnets such as [magnetic holders with a threaded sleeve] or [neodymium magnetic holders with an internal thread] should be selected with the thread size that matches the intended mounting solution.

The thread sizes available in our store are:

• M3 (3 mm)
• M4 (4 mm)
• M5 (5 mm)
• M6 (6 mm)
• M8 (8 mm)
• M10 (10 mm)
• M12 (12 mm)
• M14 (14 mm)
• M16 (16 mm)

Magnetization Direction

Axial magnetization along the height means that the two end surfaces of the magnet have opposite magnetic poles.

In products such as [ferrite magnetic sheets] or [neodymium magnetic strips], the arrangement is different: both magnetic poles are located on the same surface and alternate along the surface.

Coercivity (HcB)

Magnetic coercivity, also known as coercive field strength, is the value of the external magnetic field that must be applied to a ferromagnetic material to reduce its residual magnetization to zero.

Max. Operating Temperature

This parameter applies to all magnets, but its value may vary depending on the material from which the magnet is made.

If a magnet is exposed to a temperature higher than the specified maximum operating temperature, it will gradually lose its magnetic properties.

Some products consisting of more than one component may have different temperature tolerances. For example, [neodymium magnetic holders in a rubber casing] can contain neodymium magnets that withstand temperatures of up to 80°C, while the rubber casing has a temperature tolerance of up to 60°C.

A similar situation applies to products such as [5 mm magnetic balls], where the paint coating has a lower temperature tolerance, or [neodymium magnets for magnet fishing], where the casing can withstand a higher temperature than the magnet inside it.

Material

The material from which the magnet is made:

NdFeB – made from neodymium, iron and boron, e.g. [neodymium balls] and [neodymium magnetic holders].

F – made from barium ferrite, e.g. ferrite magnetic holders with a hole for a flat-head screw.

Coating / Housing Coating / Magnet Coating

Depending on the product, this parameter describes the material used to coat the product.

For magnetic holders, such as [neodymium magnetic holders with a countersunk hole for a screw] or [magnetic holders with a hook], we have separated this parameter into Housing Coating and Magnet Coating to avoid confusion and make it clear that the magnet and its housing may have different coatings.

The available coatings include:

• Ni – Nickel
• Cu – Copper
• Zn – Zinc
• Epoxy – a thermosetting plastic with high strength and chemical resistance
• Au – Gold
• Cr – Chromium

Remanence (Br)

Remanence, also known as residual magnetization, is the magnetic flux density that remains in a ferromagnetic material after the external magnetizing magnetic field has been removed.

Magnetic Force (Max. Lifting Capacity)

The Magnetic Force (Max. Lifting Capacity) parameter refers to the force required to pull a magnet away from a steel surface under the following conditions:

• The magnet is pulled away perpendicularly to the steel surface.

The illustration above shows the difference between perpendicular pull-off (left) and lateral sliding (right). Sliding a magnet along a metal surface requires significantly less force than pulling it away perpendicularly.

If the surface is very smooth, such as painted metal on a refrigerator, the magnetic holding force may be reduced by up to five times. Some surfaces increase friction, such as rubber, and may cause the magnet to be easier to pull off than to slide sideways.

Our range includes magnets in rubber casings, which are better suited to applications where the force acts laterally rather than perpendicularly to the surface.

• The magnet is in full contact with the steel surface.

If the metal surface is uneven and the magnet does not make full contact with it, the magnetic force is reduced in a similar way to the effect of an air gap.

• The steel surface is at least half as thick as the magnet.

For a magnet to achieve its maximum holding force, it must be attached to a sufficiently thick steel surface.

For example, a cylindrical magnet measuring 20 × 10 mm reaches its maximum holding force on a steel sheet with a thickness of 5 mm or more. If the sheet thickness is reduced to 1 mm, the magnetic force will decrease by approximately half. With a sheet thickness of 0.5 mm, the magnetic force decreases to approximately one quarter.

• The surface is made of pure steel.

Our magnets are tested on a smooth, polished steel surface. If the sheet is made from another magnetic material, such as an iron alloy containing another metal, or if the surface is rusty, the magnetic force may be lower.

In most real-world applications, not all of these conditions are met. Therefore, the actual magnetic force may be lower than the value specified in the product parameters.