We all know that magnets attract each other at opposite poles and repel each other at the same pole. But what types of metals do they attract? Neodymium magnets are known as the strongest magnet material and have the highest holding strength for these metals. They are called ferromagnetic metals and mainly contain iron, nickel and rare earth alloys. In contrast, paramagnetism is a very weak attraction between other metals and magnets that you hardly notice.
The most common metals attracted by magnets or magnetic devices are ferrous metals containing iron and iron alloys. For example, steel is widely used and can be easily handled by lifting equipment containing neodymium magnets. Since these ferroelectrons and their magnetic fields are easily aligned with the external magnetic field, they are easily attracted. And based on the same theory, neodymium magnets, which are made of iron, can induce and remain magnetic through a strong magnetic field. On the other hand, stainless steel alloys do not have this property and cannot be attracted by magnets. Elemental nickel and some nickel alloys are also ferromagnetic, such as aluminum cobalt nickel magnets. The key to their attraction to magnets is their alloy composition or what other elements they have.
Metals such as aluminum, copper and gold exhibit paramagnetism or weak attraction. When placed in a magnetic field or close to a magnet, these metals generate their own magnetic fields that weakly attract them to the magnet and do not persist when the external magnetic field is removed.
Therefore, before purchasing any magnet material, it is very important to understand the material used. It's best to find out the composition of the metallic material, some of which (like carbon) can significantly affect the pull strength of the magnet.
What types of metals do neodymium magnets attract?
