Materials testing
The magnetic and structural properties of materials reveal essential information about their quality and performance. FOERSTER testing technologies characterize metals, alloys, and sintered materials without causing damage. By measuring parameters such as permeability, coercive field strength, and magnetic saturation, material behavior can be precisely assessed and monitored throughout development and production.
Metal alloys
Metal alloys consist of two or more metallic elements whose composition and treatment determine their mechanical and magnetic properties. Factors such as alloying components, mechanical processing, and heat treatment strongly influence strength, hardness, and corrosion resistance.
Hard metal / sintered materials
Hard metals and sintered materials are composite materials made from metal powders that are compacted and sintered to achieve exceptional hardness and wear resistance. Controlling parameters such as grain size, carbon balance, and sintering degree is essential to ensure consistent material quality.
Magnetically soft materials
Magnetically soft materials are characterized by low coercive field strength, meaning they can be easily magnetized and demagnetized. Such materials, including Supermalloy, are used in highly sensitive applications such as magnetic shielding for rooms where brain waves are measured.
Nonmagnetic metals
Nonmagnetic metals, such as stainless steel, copper, or aluminum, are characterized by their very low magnetic permeability. Despite this, minimal magnetic influences or ferritic inclusions can still occur and require precise detection for reliable quality assurance.
Ferrite materials
Ferritic materials, such as steels, are magnetic materials in which properties like coercive field strength correlate closely with production parameters and material structure. Measuring these magnetic values provides valuable insights into the quality and consistency of the material.
SMC
Soft Magnetic Composites (SMC) are magnetically soft powder materials that enable the production of complex, three-dimensional components. They combine good magnetic permeability and high saturation with low iron losses, even at high frequencies, making them ideal for electric motor applications.