Novel SMC materials with the insulating layer treated at high temperature

Magnetic materials play an always more important role in several industrial sectors, particularly in the field of electrical machines. In recent years new magnetic materials have been proposed in substitution of the traditional ones, as for Soft Magnetic Composites (SMC) in place of laminated steels. The use of SMC materials allows different advantages: low eddy currents, low iron losses at a medium frequency and the possibility to implement the magnetic core in very complex geometries. However, some drawbacks characterize the SMCs: thermal constraints, limiting the heat treatment below 600°C, and low mechanical performances. The paper reports the results on mechanical and electromagnetic properties of SMCs obtained investigating SMC systems made using silicon for the creation of the insulating layer, with thermal treatments carried out in the range 500-700 °C.