Temperature Stability and Flux Losses Over Time in Sintered Nd–Fe–B Permanent Magnets

Demagnetization occurring with time in a constant temperature is often assumed to be negligible, provided that the operating point of the magnet is above the knee of the
B-H
curve. However, because it is important to ensure that no permanent flux losses occur in permanent magnets during their use in industrial applications, there is a clear need to quantify these time-dependent losses. We measured losses over time for four commercial sintered Nd-Fe-B magnet grades at five different temperatures (23degC-150degC). We tested samples with three different permeance coefficient (Pc) values for each material. The time-dependent losses measured fitted the logarithmic law of magnetic viscosity well. We demonstrated that the total flux loss in a lifetime of 30 years can be estimated according to the temperature, coercivity of the material, and the permeance coefficient of the magnet. With proper selection of the magnet material, in accordance with the designed Pc of the application, the total flux loss in 30 years can be minimized almost to zero even at 150degC.