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X-MINING Magnetic Materials

Sumitomo Metal Mining sells and provides SmFeN magnet materials using samarium (Sm), which is a surplus element among rare earths, that are magnet powder, magnet compounds for injection molding and various technical services for product realization.

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Material Properties

Sumitomo Metal Mining's magnet material products (Wellmax™) are magnet powder for samarium iron-nitrogen (SmFeN) magnet and injection molded materials for rare earth bonded magnets. We are one of the few companies in the world that manufacture and sell neodymium (Nd)-free SmFeN magnet materials.
The SmFeN magnet material is more resistant to rust than the NdFeB magnet material, and the magnetic force of the injection molded bonded magnet made of SmFeN magnet materials has the same or better characteristics than the isotropic NdFeB compression molded bonded magnet. For this reason, molded magnets with complex shapes can be used in most applications without coating.
Although the SmFeN magnet material can be used as an isotropic magnet, it can also be used as an anisotropic magnet to obtain the strong magnetic force inherent to the material. By analyzing the magnetic field and forming prototypes to produce this anisotropic magnet, we support customers in reducing initial development costs and shortening the time to product your magnets.
With the high cost performance of Wellmax™ magnet materials, we can differentiate ourselves from our competitors and create your original molded magnet and its application products together.

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Related Documents

  • Wellmax™

    Bonded Magnet Materials of SMM

    Wellmax™
    INDEX
    • Features of Wellmax™
    • Higher rust resistance than NdFeB magnets
    • Reduction of Weight and Cost with Wellmax™
    • Make differentiations throught injection molding
    • Application examples of Wellmax™
  • Wellmax™-S1

    Anisotropic SmFeN (Samarium-Iron-Nitrogen) magnet powder

    Wellmax™-S1
    INDEX
    • Composition
    • Particle size distribution and SEM appearance
    • Magnetic properties and demagnetization curve
  • Wellmax™-S3 Series

    Anisotoripic SmFeN (Samarium-Iron-Nitrogen) PA12 magnet pellet for injection molding

    Wellmax™-S3 Series
    INDEX
    • Magnetic, mechanical and thermal properties
    • Demagnetization curves(with temperature dependence)
    • Magnetizing, Alignment and demagnetizing properties
    • Stability(at 80℃90%RH、120℃Dry)
    • Recomended molding conditions
  • Wellmax™-S4 Series

    Anisotropic SmFeN (Samarium-Iron-Nitrogen) mixed Ferrite PA12 magnet pellet for injection molding

    Wellmax™-S4 Series
    INDEX
    • Magnetic, mechanical and thermal properties
    • Demagnetization curves(with temperature dependence)
    • Magnetizing, Alignment and demagnetizing properties
    • Stability(at 80℃Dry)
    • Recomended molding conditions
  • Wellmax™-S5B Series

    Anisotropic NdFeB mixed SmFeN PA magnet pellet for injection molding

    Wellmax™-S5B Series
    INDEX
    • Magnetic, mechanical and thermal properties
    • Demagnetization curves(with temperature dependence)
    • Magnetizing, Alignment and demagnetizing properties
    • Stability(at 80℃ and 120℃Dry)
    • Recomended molding conditions
  • Wellmax™-S5P Series

    Anisotropic NdFeB mixed SmFeN PPS magnet pellet for injection molding

    Wellmax™-S5P Series
    INDEX
    • Magnetic, mechanical and thermal properties
    • Demagnetization curves(with temperature dependence)
    • Magnetizing, Alignment and demagnetizing properties
    • Stability(at 80℃ and 150℃Dry)
    • Recomended molding conditions

Product Lineup

1. There are SmFeN(SFN) magnet powder, injection-molded material mixed with 12 nylon (PA12) using SFN magnet powder and ferrite magnet powder, and injection molding materials mixed SFN magnet powder and 12 nylon (PA12). These are neodymium-free products. Injection molding materials are available in 1 to 2MGOe increments with maximum magnetic energy product of 23~111kJ/3 (3 to 14MGOe).
In addition, there are injection molding materials containing anisotropic neodymium iron boron magnet powder and SFN magnet powder, although they contain neodymium. They are injection molding materials having a maximum energy product of 135-143kJ/m3 (17-18MGOe) for PA12 resin based products and 95~103kJ/m3 (11~12MGOe) for polyphenylen sulfide (PPS) resin based products.
2. In addition to SFN materials, we also manufacture and sell injection molding materials using isotropic neodymium magnet powder by in-house kneading.

Type Magnet Powder Directional Property Binder Resin Maximum Energy Product※ Characteristics
S1 SmFeN Anisotropic (Magnet Powder) 286~310(36~39) SFN fine particles with an average particle size of 2 to 3μm. Category 2 hazardous materials (flammable solids)
S3 PA12 80~111(10~14) Magnetic compound of SmFeN alone. By changing the blending ratio of the magnet powder and the binder resin, Optimal magnetic properties can be selected.
S4 SmFeN+Ferrite PA12 24~56(3~7) This is a hybrid compound with “SmFeN + ferrite. Higher magnetic properties than ferrite injection make use of the advantages of injection molding.
S5 SmFeN+NdFeB PA12 135~143(17~18) This is a hybrid compound with “SmFeN + anisotropic NdFeB. It exhibits higher magnetic properties than S3.
S5P PPS 80~103(10~13) This is a hybrid compound with “SmFeN + anisotropic NdFeB. PPS resin with high heat resistance is used as a binder.

※kJ/m3(MGOe)

Photographs of Wellmax

Photographs of Wellmax

Characteristics of our Rare Earth Magnet Materials

Sumitomo Metals’ products (Wellmax) of magnet materials are mainly injection molding materials for samarium iron-nitrogen (SmFeN) magnet powder and rare-earth bonded magnets. We are one of the few manufacturers worldwide to manufacture and sell SmFeN magnet materials (SFN magnet materials) that do not use neodymium (Nd).
SFN are less resistant to rust than neodymium magnet materials. Making use of this property, most of the magnets made of SFN are paint-less. The magnetic force of this magnet has characteristics equal to or higher than that of an isotropic neodymium compression molded bonded magnet. In addition, since the specific gravity is lighter than that of neodymium compression-molded bonded magnets, the weight of the magnet alone can be reduced by about 30%. And because the conductivity is small, eddy current generation in the magnet is suppressed compared to neodymium compression-molded bonded magnets.
Wellmax’s SmFeN magnet (SFN magnet) material can also be used as an isotropic magnet, but the material’s original strong magnetic force can be obtained by using it as an anisotropic magnet. We support our customers in reducing their initial development costs and realizing short-term magnets in their product development by helping them analyze the magnetic field and support for your prototype creations to make this anisotropic magnet.

Applications

Since R & D in 1990, Wellmax SFN magnet materials have been successfully mass-produced and used in telecommunications and audio equipment. They have been used in consumer electronics and industrial equipment. In recent years, they have been widely used in automotive applications. Magnet materials are not widely known for their use in areas that are invisible to the general public, but they are magnet materials with more than twenty years of experience as materials for motors and other components in your familiar electrical equipment.
SMM's SFN Magnet Material Adoption Results
SMM's SFN Magnet Material Adoption Results

Used as an alternative to neodymium magnets

Demand for rare-earth magnets, including neodymium magnets, has been increasing year by year since its invention and industrialization with the aim of miniaturizing equipment and conserving energy. In particular, sintered magnets that do not use resin or other binders are driving demand for rare-earth magnets. On the other hand, there are many applications where sintered magnets are not suitable depending on the size and structure of the motor. In these applications, bonded magnets (also called plastic magnets) made by solidifying neodymium magnet powder with a binder such as resin are used, and demand for these magnets is also growing year by year. Neodymium bonded magnets, in particular, use isotropic (link installation to glossary) bonded magnets, especially compression molded bonded magnets.
Wellmax SFN magnet materials have a great potential as a substitute for neodymium bonded magnets, particularly neodymium compression-molded bonded magnets. Specifically,
・Low risk of raw material procurement and price fluctuations
・30% lighter in specific gravity if the properties are equivalent
・Rust resistance eliminates the need for painting in most applications
・Since it is an injection molding material, it is possible to manufacture products with complicated shapes and other integral moldings for example shaft.
・Be suitable for in-house production
And so on.
On the other hand, since it is an anisotropic magnet material, a technique called “magnetic orientation” using a magnetic circuit design is required to fully demonstrate the material properties. Leveraging our long experience and knowledge of anisotropic rare-earth bonded magnets, we will push you forward with the commercialization of this product by providing technical support through “magnetic orientation analysys.”
Examples of rare-earth magnet materials with low price fluctuations are introduced here.
Here’s an article about the surge in the price of rare-earth magnets

Possibility of Rare-Earth Magnet Materials and Application Examples

Sumitomo Metal Mining’s rare earth magnet material Samarium Iron Nitrogen Magnet, introduced here, is a material that can be expected to reduce magnetic force and rust equivalent or more than the magnetic force of neodymium bonded magnets using neodymium while avoiding the raw material risk of neodymium.
In order to find new ways of using this product, we invite guests from both inside and outside the company and introduce the potential of product developments and materials in a dialogue called “X-TALK.
Please refer to the following for the possibility of using rare earth magnet materials.
Magnetic Material Applications Such as EV Motors, and the Potential of Samarium-Iron-Nitrogen Magnetic Materials|X-MINING

Frequently asked questions about Rare Earth Magnet Materials

What are the uses of samarium?

The main applications of samarium are for magnets such as samarium cobalt magnets. Samarium cobalt magnets are expensive, but they are continuously used in sensors and other applications because of their excellent thermal stability at high temperatures.

What are the reserves of rare earths?

Rare earths are considered scarce because they are called “rare.” But there are more than 100 million tons of rare earths known to exist, and in recent years it has been discovered that an amount equivalent to several hundred years of global demand has been buried in the seabed near Japan.

What are the uses of rare earth magnet materials?

They are used in everything from household appliances, motors, generators, and magnetic disks to manufacturing sites. They have high magnetic power, so the use are increasing in applications requiring smaller, lighter, higher efficiency.

SMM's support for orientation design by using magnetic field analysis simulation

We support our customer's product development by using magnetic field analysis software,
aiming to shorten development time and reduce cost.

Related Documents

  • Wellmax™

    Bonded Magnet Materials of SMM

    Wellmax™
    INDEX
    • Features of Wellmax™
    • Higher rust resistance than NdFeB magnets
    • Reduction of Weight and Cost with Wellmax™
    • Make differentiations throught injection molding
    • Application examples of Wellmax™
  • Wellmax™-S1

    Anisotropic SmFeN (Samarium-Iron-Nitrogen) magnet powder

    Wellmax™-S1
    INDEX
    • Composition
    • Particle size distribution and SEM appearance
    • Magnetic properties and demagnetization curve
  • Wellmax™-S3 Series

    Anisotoripic SmFeN (Samarium-Iron-Nitrogen) PA12 magnet pellet for injection molding

    Wellmax™-S3 Series
    INDEX
    • Magnetic, mechanical and thermal properties
    • Demagnetization curves(with temperature dependence)
    • Magnetizing, Alignment and demagnetizing properties
    • Stability(at 80℃90%RH、120℃Dry)
    • Recomended molding conditions
  • Wellmax™-S4 Series

    Anisotropic SmFeN (Samarium-Iron-Nitrogen) mixed Ferrite PA12 magnet pellet for injection molding

    Wellmax™-S4 Series
    INDEX
    • Magnetic, mechanical and thermal properties
    • Demagnetization curves(with temperature dependence)
    • Magnetizing, Alignment and demagnetizing properties
    • Stability(at 80℃Dry)
    • Recomended molding conditions
  • Wellmax™-S5B Series

    Anisotropic NdFeB mixed SmFeN PA magnet pellet for injection molding

    Wellmax™-S5B Series
    INDEX
    • Magnetic, mechanical and thermal properties
    • Demagnetization curves(with temperature dependence)
    • Magnetizing, Alignment and demagnetizing properties
    • Stability(at 80℃ and 120℃Dry)
    • Recomended molding conditions
  • Wellmax™-S5P Series

    Anisotropic NdFeB mixed SmFeN PPS magnet pellet for injection molding

    Wellmax™-S5P Series
    INDEX
    • Magnetic, mechanical and thermal properties
    • Demagnetization curves(with temperature dependence)
    • Magnetizing, Alignment and demagnetizing properties
    • Stability(at 80℃ and 150℃Dry)
    • Recomended molding conditions

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