Soft Magnetic Materials — Cores for Power & Signal
Soft magnetic materials concentrate and shape magnetic fields in transformers, inductors, and chokes. FeSiAl, FeNi, MnZn ferrite, and SMC — matched to your frequency, loss, and cost requirements.
For Procurement
MOQ, lead time, packaging and commercial terms — go straight to a quotation.
Request a Quote →For Engineering
Grades, drawings, process data and design support for your DFM review.
Material Data & Specifications →For Quality / SQE
Certificates, inspection planning, traceability and PPAP / FAI support per project.
Certificates & Documentation →
Choosing a Soft Magnetic Material
The right material depends on frequency, loss budget, and cost target:
- ✓MnZn ferrite — the volume leader for switch-mode power supplies — excellent loss at 20kHz–2MHz, low cost, limited by lower saturation (0.4T) and temperature-dependent loss
- ✓FeSiAl (Sendust) — high saturation (1.05T), low loss at 100kHz–1MHz, and low magnetostriction (quiet) — the premium choice for high-efficiency inductors
- ✓FeNi (Permalloy) — very high permeability (μ up to 100,000) — for precision transformers, current sensors, and magnetic shielding
- ✓Soft Magnetic Composites (SMC) — iron powder with insulating coating — 3D flux paths possible, very high saturation (1.5T+), moderate frequency to 100kHz
Applications
| Application | Typical Spec | Why This Material |
|---|---|---|
| SMPS Power Transformers | MnZn ferrite (PC44/PC95) | 50W–5kW switching supplies |
| Wireless Charging Coils | MnZn ferrite + FeSiAl | Qi chargers and EV wireless power |
| PFC Inductors | FeSiAl powder cores | High-efficiency power factor correction |
| Current Sensors | FeNi permalloy | Precision current transformer cores |
| EMI Suppression | MnZn ferrite beads/chips | Common-mode chokes and EMI filters |
Material Comparison
Material datasheets available for download.
| Material | Saturation (Bs) | Max Permeability | Best Frequency | Loss Level | Relative Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MnZn Ferrite | 0.4T | 10,000 | 10kHz–2MHz | Low (grade-dep.) | $ |
| FeSiAl (Sendust) | 1.05T | 80–150 | 1kHz–1MHz | Low | $$ |
| FeNi 50/50 | 1.5T | 100,000 | ≤10kHz | Medium | $$$$ |
| FeNi 80/20 (Mo-p) | 0.8T | 50,000 | ≤100kHz | Medium | $$$$$ |
| SMC (Iron powder) | 1.5T+ | 20–100 | ≤100kHz | Medium | $$ |
| Nanocrystalline | 1.2T | 100,000+ | ≤100kHz | Very low | $$$$ |
Core Geometry Options
We produce cores in standard and custom geometries:
- ✓Standard geometries — EE, ETD, EER, PQ, RM, toroid, pot cores — tooling exists, fastest and cheapest
- ✓Custom geometries — pressed to your drawing (tooling $2k–$10k) — for integrated motor/inverter designs
- ✓Distributed gap — powder cores (FeSiAl, SMC) have distributed air gaps — no gap-loss heating at the gap, ideal for DC-biased inductors
- ✓Laminated assemblies — FeNi and nanocrystalline cores wound from thin tape (20–25μm) — lowest loss for high-frequency transformers
Getting a Quote
For the fastest and most accurate quote, provide:
- ✓Core geometry — drawing (custom) or standard geometry designation (EE25, ETD34, etc.)
- ✓Material grade — from our datasheets, or tell us your frequency and loss target — we'll recommend
- ✓Quantity — prototype and annual volume
- ✓Secondary operations — coating (epoxy/parylene), winding, assembly, or testing requirements
Complete Technical Data
Full reference tables for Soft Magnetic Materials — migrated from our production specification library. Click any row's PDF to download the grade datasheet.
| Product | Purity / Grade | Particle Size | Packaging | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceria Polishing Powder | 99.5-99.9% | 0.5-3.0 μm | 25kg drum / 1MT big bag | Optical glass, semiconductor CMP, precision optics |
| Lanthanum Carbonate | 99.9-99.99% | Powder | 25kg drum | Catalysts, optical glass, FCC catalyst precursor |
| Cerium Carbonate | 99.5-99.9% | Powder | 25kg drum | Auto catalyst, glass decolorizer, UV absorber |
| Yttrium Oxide | 99.99-99.999% | 1-5 μm | 1-25kg vacuum-packed | Phosphors, laser crystals, YSZ ceramics |
| Mixed RE Carbonate | Industrial | Powder | 1MT big bag | Petroleum cracking catalyst, bulk industrial |
Application Gallery
Real applications of Soft Magnetic Materials across industries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What material should I choose for a 100kHz inductor?
At 100kHz: MnZn ferrite (PC44/PC95) is the standard choice — good loss and lowest cost. If you have high DC bias (inductor carrying significant current), FeSiAl powder cores handle the bias without saturation — ferrite would need a discrete gap, adding gap losses. For very high efficiency, nanocrystalline tape-wound cores offer the lowest losses but at premium cost.
Can you match a competitor's core?
Yes — send the competitor's datasheet or a sample core. We'll characterize it (permeability, loss curve, saturation) and match the material and geometry. We can also cross-reference standard core designations from TDK, EPCOS, Magnetics Inc., and other major suppliers.
Do you wind cores too?
Yes — we offer winding services with copper magnet wire, Litz wire, and foil. Send your winding specification (turns, wire gauge, insulation class) for a quote on wound components. We also assemble cores with brackets, bobbins, and terminals for complete magnetic component supply.
Quality & Reliability
Lot Traceability
Every batch carries a lot number tied to measured magnetic and electrical properties — permeability, core loss, saturation flux density.
Application Testing
Inductance, Q and loss verified on wound samples or your geometry per the agreed test plan.
Reliability Data
Temperature cycling and humidity stability data available on request for demanding electronics programs.
Have a Specification or Core Drawing?
Send it to our engineering team — we'll match the material to your frequency, loss and flux requirements.