Not all magnets are hard and rigid. Some of them are flexible. Known as flex magnets, they offer a higher level of customization than their hard and rigid counterparts. Flexible magnets can be easily customized thanks to their flexible properties. They support cutting and drilling, as well as other manufacturing processes, to offer a superior level of customization. Unless you’re familiar with flexible magnets, though, you might be wondering what they are made of
The Basics of Flexible Magnets
Flexible magnets have the same magnetic properties as traditional magnets. They will produce a magnetic field that attracts to iron, iron alloys, cobalt and other ferromagnetic materials. Whether rigid or flexible, all magnets attract to ferromagnetic materials. Magnets produce a magnetic field, which is responsible for this attraction.
Flexible magnets are simply flexible. In other words, you can bend them without breaking them. Some flexible magnets consist of a sheet of flexible material, whereas others consist of strips of a flexible material. Regardless, you can bend all types of flexible magnets without breaking them. The same can’t be said for other types of magnets, which are typically too hard and rigid to break.
Ferromagnetic Compound
Most flexible magnets are made of a ferromagnetic compound. The term “ferromagnetic” is used to describe materials that are attracted to magnets. Iron, of course, is considered a ferromagnetic material. When exposed to a magnet, iron and iron alloys will stick to it. Other types of ferromagnetic materials include cobalt and nickel.
Flexible magnets aren’t necessarily made of a pure ferromagnetic material. Rather, they are made of a ferromagnetic compound. One of the most common types of ferromagnetic compounds used in their construction is ferric oxide. Ferric oxide is one of several types of oxides produced by iron. Also known as iron (III) oxide, it exhibits magnetic properties. You can find flexible magnets made of other materials, but many of them are made of ferric oxide.
In addition to a ferromagnetic compound like ferric oxide, flexible magnets feature a binder agent. The binder agent is responsible for binding the ferromagnetic compound together. The binding agent may consist of plastic. With this binding agent, the ferromagnetic compound will stay together while offering an effective flexible magnetic.
Hopefully, this gives you a better understanding of what flexible magnets are made of. Most flexible magnets are made of a ferromagnetic compound like ferric oxide that’s mixed with a binder agent like plastic.