Ι What Are AlNiCo Horseshoe Magnets?
AlNiCo, short for Aluminum–Nickel–Cobalt, is a non–rare earth metallic permanent magnet material made mainly from Aluminum (Al), Nickel (Ni), Cobalt (Co), and Iron (Fe), with small additions of elements such as Titanium (Ti), Niobium (Nb), and Copper (Cu) to adjust coercivity. Before rare earth permanent magnets were introduced, AlNiCo magnets were the dominant material in the permanent magnet industry.
AlNiCo horseshoe magnets, also known as C-shaped or U-shaped magnets, are a distinctive form of AlNiCo magnet and are widely recognized as one of the classic symbols of permanent magnets and magnetism. AlNiCo magnets are manufactured by two main methods: sintering and casting, with cast AlNiCo being more common overall. In practice, almost all AlNiCo horseshoe magnets are produced by casting.
Originally, AlNiCo horseshoe magnets were mainly used in holding and clamping applications. Today, they are more often seen in educational environments, where they are used to demonstrate basic magnetic principles and visualize magnetic fields.
