Many people wonder why they will not be able to find a Neodymium magnet that can stick to aluminum. The answer is quite simple actually, and is due to the materials themselves. Both of these materials are ferromagnetic in nature, which basically means they have a magnetic polarity that points in the same direction. This property makes both metals attractive for use in industrial applications where magnets will be used frequently, such as in motors, generators, compressors and turbines. Because Neodymium magnets tend to lose their strength over time when attached to aluminum, it is unwise to stick one onto the other permanently unless you are able to re-magnetize the base material regularly or unless you want your device to last for many years at home.
What Is Neodymium?
Neodymium is a chemical element that’s part of the lanthanide series. It is an extremely rare earth metal that has been used to make permanent magnets, which are another name for magnetic materials. Neodymium is usually alloyed with other metals like iron and boron to create different types of magnets.
Neodymium has a strong affinity for nickel, meaning it will always stick to nickel-based alloys. This makes it a good choice for crafting durable and powerful permanent magnets.
If you want to use neodymium magnets on aluminum, you can re-magnetize the base material by heating it up in your oven or microwave before attaching the magnet with superglue or epoxy resin. You can also sand the surface of the magnet, but this will weaken its strength significantly over time.
Will Neodymium Magnets Sticks To Steel
If you are seeking a magnet that can stick to steel, then you will be better off with a rare earth magnet. These magnets, which are actually called NdFeB magnets, have their own magnetic poles that oppose each other. Because of this difference in polarity, these magnets will stick to steel and iron more readily than they will stick to aluminum. This is because the magnetic field of the iron is able to cancel out the magnetic field of the Neodymium magnet due to its metal pole-to-pole configuration.
Will Neodymium Magnets Stick To Other Ferrous Materials?
Many people believe that a Neodymium magnet can stick to other ferrous materials, but this is not the case. A Neodymium magnet is not strong enough to stick to any ferrous material on its own. That being said, if you had a sufficient amount of magnetic power in your Neodymium magnet, it would be able to hold onto another metal. For instance, if you have a 1 pound Neodymium magnet, and were able to attach it to steel with twice the strength of the Neodymium magnet, then you could theoretically use the stronger metal as an anchor for the weaker one. This would allow you to use the stronger metal in that spot where it is needed, while also giving you an attractive surface on which to mount other objects.
Will Neodymium Magnets Stick To Copper?
Neodymium magnets have an attractive force between them, but because of their polarity, they will not stick to copper no matter how much you put on it. Copper is a diamagnetic material and has a magnetic field that is opposite to the magnetic field of a Neodymium magnet. This means that Cu will repel any nearby Neodymium magnets with more force than the magnets can pull each other together. In order to stick two metals together, one needs to be ferromagnetic while the other is diamagnetic.
Why Won’t Neodymium magnets stick to plastic?
Neodymium magnets have a high sensitivity to oxygen which causes the magnet to quickly lose their strength. This is because when oxygen particles are present in the air, they can react with the material and cause it to oxidize. When this happens, the molecular structure of the metal changes, which diminishes its magnetic properties.
When Neodymium magnets are placed next to each other on plastic surfaces, they will not stick because one of them will oxidize or corrode very quickly. This is why they are often used in industrial applications where they hold up against corrosion and oxidation better than aluminum.
Conclusion
Neodymium magnets are smaller and stronger than ceramic magnets, but they do have one downside: they don’t stick well to ferrous materials such as steel. This presents a problem when you need a magnet that’s strong enough to hold a thick piece of metal, such as a steel-reinforced door. One solution is to use an aluminum magnet in place of a neodymium magnet, which will stick to steel and other ferrous metals, but not copper or plastic.
