Halex Coil
Background
The Halex Coil utilizes the extremely high magnetic strength of rare-earth magnets. Rare-earth magnets are an advanced group of recently developed materials whose magetic properties can exceed that of common magnets by as much as one hundred times. They get their name from the rare-earth group of chemical elements, like neodymium, from which they are made.
Neodymium iron boron magnets are produced by compacting a finely milled powder in the presence of an electromagnetic alignment field. The powder is then sintered and heat-treated in a controlled atmosphere of inert gas to achieve maximum density and magnetic strength. Diamond abrasives are used to shape the magnet.
The development of rare-earth magnets has opened-up a new era of magnetic design. Components that were previously large and heavy can now be miniaturized to provide a maximum magnetic field with a minimum scarifice of volume.
Many applications for rare-earth magnets are developing at a rapid pace. Some applications include magnetic separation, systems that require a high "holding" force, medical and geophysical imaging instrumentation, guidance systems, and now a device to reduce fluid contamination.