Soft magnetic materials for a sustainable and electrified world

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 362; no. 6413
• Main Authors: Silveyra, Josefina M., Ferrara, Enzo, Huber, Dale L., Monson, Todd C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The American Association for the Advancement of Science 26.10.2018; AAAS
• Subjects: Alloy powders; Alloys; Amorphous materials; Art Materials; Controllers; Cores; Current loss; Eddy currents; Electric power; Electronics; Electronics industry; Energy; Energy conversion; Energy conversion efficiency; Energy storage; Fabrication; Ferrites; Frequency ranges; Generators; High frequencies; Inductors; Iron; Magnetic fields; Magnetic induction; Magnetic materials; Magnetism; Magnetization reversal; Magnets; MATERIALS SCIENCE; Motors; Nanocrystals; Nanoparticles; Oxides; Powder; Power efficiency; Rotating electrical machines; Semiconductor devices; Semiconductors; Silicon; Silicon carbide; Silicon steels; Steel; Transformers; Weight; Wide bandgap semiconductors
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.aao0195

The most familiar magnets are permanent magnets like the ones on a refrigerator door. However, for applications in transformers and motors, soft magnets that can rapidly switch their magnetization in response to a magnetic field are used. In electronics, wide bandgap semiconductors such as silicon carbide will allow power conversion electronics and motor controllers to operate more efficiently, but soft magnets must be developed that can respond at higher frequencies. Silveyra et al. review the development of current soft magnetic materials and opportunities for improving their performance in high-frequency operation. Materials being explored include soft ferrites, amorphous and nanocrystalline alloys, and powder cores or soft magnetic composites. Science , this issue p. eaao0195 Soft magnetic materials are key to the efficient operation of the next generation of power electronics and electrical machines (motors and generators). Many new materials have been introduced since Michael Faraday’s discovery of magnetic induction, when iron was the only option. However, as wide bandgap semiconductor devices become more common in both power electronics and motor controllers, there is an urgent need to further improve soft magnetic materials. These improvements will be necessary to realize the full potential in efficiency, size, weight, and power of high-frequency power electronics and high–rotational speed electrical machines. Here we provide an introduction to the field of soft magnetic materials and their implementation in power electronics and electrical machines. Additionally, we review the most promising choices available today and describe emerging approaches to create even better soft magnetic materials.