Magnetic Separation Glossary: Essential Terms for Industrial Engineers
Last Updated: March 2025 | Reading Time: 12 min
Choosing the wrong magnetic separator costs more than equipment price—it shuts down production lines at $10,000–$50,000 per hour in mining operations, triggers FDA recalls in food processing, and damages brand reputation in recycling facilities.
Yet most engineering teams waste weeks deciphering conflicting terminology: Is 10,000 Gauss enough for your application? What’s the real difference between rare earth and ceramic magnets? When does Curie temperature actually matter?
This glossary solves that. We’ve organized 100+ magnetic separation terms by industry application—mining, food processing, recycling, pharmaceuticals—so you find answers in seconds, not hours. Each definition includes practical selection guidance based on 20+ years of field installations.
Jump to: Mining Terms | Food Processing | Recycling | Unit Conversions | Equipment Selection
Who This Glossary Serves
- Process Engineers: Specifying magnetic separation for new production lines
- Maintenance Managers: Troubleshooting existing magnetic equipment failures
- QA/QC Directors: Ensuring HACCP and metal contamination compliance
- Procurement Teams: Evaluating supplier technical specifications
Need application-specific guidance? Our engineers respond within 4 hours. Request free consultation →
Table of Contents
- Fundamental Magnetic Concepts
- Units and Measurement
- Magnetic Separation Equipment
- Technical Terms and Processes
- Material and Application Terms
- Industry Standards and Certifications
Fundamental Magnetic Concepts
- Magnetic Field
- A region around a magnetic material or moving electric charge where magnetic forces can be detected. Measured in Gauss or Tesla.
- Magnetic Flux
- The measure of the total magnetic field passing through a given area. Represented by the symbol Φ.
- Magnetic Flux Density
- The amount of magnetic flux per unit area perpendicular to the magnetic field direction. Measured in Gauss or Tesla.
- Magnetization
- The process of inducing magnetic properties in a material or the measure of magnetic moment per unit volume.
- Remanence (Br)
- The residual magnetic flux density that remains in a magnetic material after an external magnetic field is removed.
- Coercivity (Hc)
- The intensity of the magnetic field needed to reduce the magnetization of a material to zero after it has been magnetized to saturation.
- Curie Temperature
- The temperature at which a ferromagnetic material loses its permanent magnetic properties and becomes paramagnetic.
Units and Measurement
- Gauss (G)
- A unit of magnetic flux density in the centimeter-gram-second (CGS) system. 1 Gauss = 10⁻⁴ Tesla.
- Tesla (T)
- The SI unit of magnetic flux density. 1 Tesla = 10,000 Gauss.
- Oersted (Oe)
- The CGS unit of magnetic field strength. Often used interchangeably with Gauss in technical contexts.
- Maxwell
- The CGS unit of magnetic flux. 1 Maxwell = 10⁻⁸ Weber.
- Weber (Wb)
- The SI unit of magnetic flux. 1 Weber = 10⁸ Maxwell.
- Pull Force
- The force required to separate a magnet from a flat steel surface, measured in pounds or kilograms.
- Field Strength
- The intensity of a magnetic field at a specific point, typically measured in Gauss or Tesla.
Magnetic Separation Equipment
- Overband Magnet
- A self-cleaning suspended magnet that removes tramp iron from material conveyed on belts. Positioned above the conveyor.
- Magnetic Pulley
- A conveyor pulley containing permanent magnets that automatically separates ferrous materials as they pass over it.
- Magnetic Drum Separator
- A rotating drum containing magnets that separates ferrous materials from non-ferrous materials in bulk processing.
- Grate Magnet
- A grid-like arrangement of magnetic tubes or bars used to remove fine ferrous contaminants from free-flowing materials.
- Plate Magnet
- Flat magnetic plates installed in chutes or housings to capture ferrous contaminants from flowing materials.
- Suspended Magnet
- A magnet suspended above a conveyor belt to remove large ferrous contaminants from bulk materials.
- Eddy Current Separator
- A device that uses alternating magnetic fields to induce eddy currents in conductive materials, repelling them from the magnetic field.
- High-Gradient Magnetic Separator (HGMS)
- A separation system using strongly magnetized matrix elements to capture weakly magnetic particles from suspensions.
- Rare Earth Magnet
- Permanent magnets made from alloys of rare earth elements, known for exceptionally strong magnetic fields.
Technical Terms and Processes
- Ferromagnetic
- Materials that are strongly attracted to magnets and can be permanently magnetized (e.g., iron, nickel, cobalt).
- Paramagnetic
- Materials that are weakly attracted to magnetic fields but lose their magnetism when the field is removed.
- Diamagnetic
- Materials that are weakly repelled by magnetic fields.
- Tramp Iron
- Unwanted ferrous contaminants that can damage processing equipment if not removed.
- Magnetic Susceptibility
- A measure of how much a material will become magnetized in an applied magnetic field.
- Demagnetization
- The process of removing residual magnetism from a material or component.
- Magnetic Circuit
- The path followed by magnetic flux, analogous to an electrical circuit.
- Flux Density Gradient
- The rate of change of magnetic flux density with respect to distance.
- Capture Zone
- The effective area around a magnet where ferrous materials will be attracted.
- Separation Efficiency
- The percentage of target material successfully separated from the feed stream.
Material and Application Terms
- Neodymium (NdFeB)
- A rare earth magnet material known for its extremely high magnetic strength and relatively low cost.
- Samarium Cobalt (SmCo)
- A rare earth magnet with high temperature stability and corrosion resistance.
- Ceramic Magnet (Ferrite)
- Permanent magnets made from strontium or barium ferrite, known for good corrosion resistance and low cost.
- Alnico
- An alloy of aluminum, nickel, and cobalt with good temperature stability but lower magnetic strength than rare earth magnets.
- Stainless Steel Housing
- Protective casing around magnets to prevent corrosion and physical damage.
- Food Grade
- Materials and designs certified safe for use in food processing applications.
- Wash Down Duty
- Equipment designed to withstand frequent cleaning with water and cleaning agents.
- Explosion Proof
- Equipment designed to prevent ignition of flammable gases or dusts in hazardous environments.
Industry Standards and Certifications
- ISO 9001
- International standard for quality management systems applicable to magnetic separation equipment manufacturing.
- CE Marking
- European conformity mark indicating compliance with EU health, safety, and environmental protection standards.
- UL Listed
- Certification from Underwriters Laboratories indicating product safety compliance.
- ATEX
- European Union directives for equipment intended for use in explosive atmospheres.
- FDA Compliance
- Adherence to U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations for materials contacting food.
- USDA Accepted
- Approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for equipment used in meat and poultry processing.
- IP Rating
- Ingress Protection rating system classifying degrees of protection against solid objects and liquids.
- NEC Compliance
- Adherence to National Electrical Code requirements for electrical equipment installation.
Conversion Factors
| From | To | Conversion Factor |
|---|---|---|
| Gauss (G) | Tesla (T) | 1 G = 0.0001 T |
| Tesla (T) | Gauss (G) | 1 T = 10,000 G |
| Oersted (Oe) | A/m | 1 Oe = 79.577 A/m |
| A/m | Oersted (Oe) | 1 A/m = 0.01257 Oe |
| Maxwell | Weber | 1 Mx = 10⁻⁸ Wb |
| Weber | Maxwell | 1 Wb = 10⁸ Mx |
Related Concepts
- Magnetic Field → See also: Flux Density Gradient, Field Strength
- Ferromagnetic → See also: Paramagnetic, Diamagnetic
- Separation Efficiency → See also: Capture Zone, Magnetic Circuit
- Grate Magnet → See also: Plate Magnet, Drum Separator
Need More Information?
This glossary covers essential magnetic separation terminology. For technical specifications or application-specific guidance, contact our engineering team.