What materials make up a permanent magnet?

Answer 1

Simple answer.

Materials like iron, nickel, cobalt and their alloys can be made to form permanent magnets, in which case the cause of the magnetization is the organization of the atoms in the material so that the atomic magnetic properties become the source of the magnetic field of the permanent magnet.

To understand the details of how atoms make magnets takes a longer answer.

First, let us establish the terminology.

When we use the term permanent magnet, we refer to an object which produces a magnetic field as a result of the material of which it is made. (This distinguishes a permanent magnet from objects that have magnetic effects that are induced by another object or external magnetic field or an electrical current.)

Second, identify the atomic origin of the magnetic characteristic.

The thing that makes a permanent magnet is to be found in the atoms which compose the magnet and their arrangements. There are some subtle considerations if one wants to explain all of the details of the magnetic properties of a magnet, but the basic answer lies in the atoms and the electrons associated with the atoms of the object.

Third, explain what creates the atomic characteristic.

Individual atoms contain an important source of magnetism which is the motion of the electric charges associated with the electrons of the atoms. As the electrons move, they are themselves a form of electrical current and if the motion of the electrons results in a net circular motion around the atom, then that creates a magnetic field just as any current flowing creates a magnetic field. But, there is a very important additional motion and that is the spin of the electrons themselves. Each electron carries angular momentum as though it is a spinning top and so we say it has spin. As a charged object, the spin will also be associated with the circular motion of charge around its own axis of spin and this motion of charge also creates its own magnetic field. So, two separate sources of current can exist in an atom and so both can contribute to a magnetic field produced by an atom. (Many atoms and molecules have equal amounts of current flowing in opposite direction and do not produce a net magnetic field, but those which do have such a cancellation of currents may form magnetic materials.)

Fourth, forming magnetic materials.

Atoms (or atoms linked together as molecules) form material objects. As they are combined, so are the individual atomic properties of the atoms and molecules. These may be combined so the magnetic fields are added together or cancelled out and that depends on the materials involved and processes of making the material. In most common magnetic materials, the arrangement of the the atoms into a solid will also result in changes to the electronic structure of the constituent atoms, so that change in electronic structure can also enhance or even eliminate the contributions of the magnetic properties of the individual atoms. If the atomic arrangement and electronic structure changes are favorable, then the magnetic field that originate at the atomic level can add together to create a magnetic field that we observe in a permanent magnet.

Final caveat.

This is a qualitative description of the atomic origin of the magnetic property of a material and it is thus incomplete. There are many nuances to the origins of magnetism that can be discovered with further study. A quantitative description would employ electromagnetic theory and quantum mechanics and may even utilize the theory of relativity.

Answer 2

Permanent magnets are typically made of ferromagnetic materials such as iron, cobalt, or nickel. These materials have strong magnetic properties that allow them to retain their magnetism over a long period. Additionally, permanent magnets are often alloyed with other elements to enhance their durability and magnetic strength.

Answer 3

Materials which have the following features make up permanent magnet :-

High retentivity

High coercivity

Hysterisis loss is small