introduction to PMG's SMC
There are innumerable ways how magnetism is used by today’s industry, e.g. motors, generators, solenoid valves, power tools, sensing devices, fuel pumps, fuel injectors, anti-lock brake systems, electrical power steering systems, etc. just to mention a few. Many of these examples utilize permanent magnets and soft magnetic materials or a combination of both.
Compared to the conventional electrical laminated sheet metals, soft magnetic components manufactured by powder metallurgy (PM) offer important advantages due to the inter-relationship of material properties, the processing of the components and their function. Therefore the PM-industry is an important supplier of soft magnetic components.
As a leading PM company PMG has improved the “standard” PM soft magnetic manufacturing process and thereby increased the advantages of this technology. With the newly developed heat resistant insulation coating PMG is able to supply soft magnetic cores with only half the iron-loss (eddy currents & hysteresis losses) and up to 300% higher mechanical strength than standard. Besides increasing the efficiency of customers’ magnetic or electric applications one major added value of PMG’s technology is the reduction of electric devices’ size and weight, a major advantage not only for new developments in the automotive industry.
PMG has a record of successfully developed prototypes, e.g. a stator for Diesel injection valves (as automotive application) and a motor stator for industrial automation (as non automotive application). PMG cooperates with and supplies to partners and customers all over the world. Please do not hesitate to contact softmagnet@pmgsinter.com for further details on this advantageous technology.
Power Electronic designers please click here for suitable data sheets.
The current major focus of application and features of SMC is listed below.
3 Dimensional shaping (Near net shape, complex shapes):
Freedom of design. Complex shaping (size reduction), reduction of parts (industry Bill of Material reduction), reduction of part’s size, e.g. mobile applications. New applications, not possible with laminated steel sheet.
Applications with frequencies between 10 kHz – 50 kHz:
At frequencies higher than 10 kHz SMC is cheaper than laminated sheet metal (which has 0.1 mm thickness at these frequencies), but needs more space (volume). Positioning: Cost reduction potential compared to laminated sheet metal (if laminated sheet metal iron plates are 0.1 mm or thinner).
Applications above 50 kHz:
At frequencies above 50 kHz SMC has a higher efficiency than laminatad sheet metal. Advantages: Cost reduction and better magnetic properties than laminated sheet metal.
Electric motor power range > 1 KW:
Large size motors bigger than 1 KW, which require strong torque, complex shape, and for which size reduction is a plus (e.g. traction motors for cars).
If you are interested in further information pease contact softmagnet@pmgsinter.com.
Power inverter (DC-AC) – reactor:
PMG offers special low iron loss (hyseresis, eddy currents, ripple current) matrials for power electronic inductor cores, enabling smallest core sizes compared to other inductor core materials.
Sterling motor ignition core (co-generation):
Co-generation has a big future. The utilization of waste heat to drive a sterling motor needs soft magnetic ignition cores, and PMG SMC offer big advantages compared to other technologies.
Environmental aspect – recyclable (easy recycling)
Additional advantage compared to laminated sheet metal the fact that SMC can be much easier recycled.
