Some materials naturally produce a magnetic field that can attract ferromagnetic materials. These materials are called magnets.
At room temperature, the chemical elements cobalt, iron and nickel are ferromagnetic and are attracted by magnets. Other pure elements become ferromagnetic at lower temperatures. These include gadolinium (below 20 °C); terbium (below -54 °C); dysprosium (below -183 °C); and thulium (below -241 °C).
Magnets can be made with a range of strengths and properties by using different materials in their construction.
List of Magnet Types
| Type | Components | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Single ferromagnetic element | cobalt, iron, nickel, gadolinium | Magnetic ores of these metals can be found, magnetized by interaction with Earth's magnetic field. These metals can all become permanent magnets. |
| Ferrite | iron oxide and barium (or strontium) carbonate | Low cost, corrosion-free, moldable, brittle. |
| Alnico | aluminum, nickel, cobalt, iron | Corrosion resistant, shapeable, less brittle than ferrite. |
| Mn-Al alloy | manganese (70%), aluminum (29%), carbon (1%) | Low cost, low performance. |
| Rare earths | samarium-cobalt and neodymium-iron-boron (NIB) magnets are the most common. | Adding rare earth metals to ferromagnetic metals can produce very powerful magnets. |
| Electromagnet | Electric wire, carrying current, looped around a ferromagnetic material.  |
Extremely high magnetic fields are achieveable using large currents. |