Permanent magnets: Features, applications and future

Abstract

Actually, one of the most used magnetic materials in technological applications are the permanent magnets (PM) or hard magnetic materials. Due their importance, in this work I present a review of the state of the art about these materials; starting with a theoretical revision of the principal concepts and most important characteristics that are necessary to understand how they work; passing by the exposition and discussion of the different types of materials which are used for their production, and their relevant industrial applications; and finally to discuss the actual and future research pathways about these materials. This in order to obtain PM materials with better performance and low costs.