Not all magnets are rigid. While all magnets are able to pull ferromagnetic materials by generating a magnetic field, some of them are flexible. Flexible magnets are permanent magnets that, as the name suggests, can bend and flex.
Most flexible magnets are made of extruded ferric oxide. Ferric oxide is one of three main oxides of iron. It’s mixed with a binder and then extruded to create flexible magnets. Because ferric oxide is ferromagnetic, the extruded products are able to generate a magnetic while offering a high level of flexibility.
Strips or Sheets
You can find flexible magnets in strips and sheets. Strips are rolls of flexible magnets. Sheets, on the other hand, are rectangular- or share-shaped flexible magnets. They are both made of the same extruded ferric oxide; they simply come in different designs.
Flexible magnet strips are great for minor applications that don’t require much space or magnetic power. You can cut flexible magnet strips from the roll, after which you can apply them to surfaces.
Size
Whether you prefer strips or sheets, you should consider the size when choosing flexible magnets. Flexible magnet sheets typically feature width, length and thickness specifications.
Flexible magnet strips, on the other hand, typically feature width, thickness and roll length specifications. Roll length refers to the total length of the roll. Some flexible magnet strips have a roll length of 100 feet, whereas others have a roll length of 200 feet.
Holding Value
Don’t forget to check the holding value when choosing flexible magnets. Also known as holding force, it represents the strength of a flexible magnet. It’s usually measured in pounds. The higher a flexible magnet’s holding value, the stronger its magnetic field will be.
Adhesive
Some flexible magnets are designed with adhesive. You can choose flexible magnets either with or without adhesive.
Flexible magnets often feature adhesive on the back side. During production, adhesive is applied to the back side, after which a protective and removable layer is added over the adhesive. You can pull off this removable layer to expose the adhesive. With the adhesive exposed, you can then press the flexible magnet against a surface to stick it in place.
Other flexible magnets feature a plain back side. They don’t have any adhesive. Instead, the back side is left plain. Without an adhesive, you’ll have to apply them using other methods. You can tape them, screw them or use standalone adhesive.