DrkAngel
1 GW
Everyone has heard about "burning up a motor", typically this involves enough heat to "cook" the insulation on the windings or various shorts or arcing due to abrasion, vibration or excessive voltage etc.
The lesser talked about heat damage seems to be how temperature affects permanent magnets!
While "burning up" a motor might involve 300-400ºF +, magnet damage occurs at much lower temperatures!
Exemplified by a simple test, a motors permanent magnets "strength" deteriorates quickly at temperature above 176ºF and seems to totally disappear at 212ºF !
Prolonged and/or higher temperature can make deterioration permanent!
This indicates that motors are damaged by much less drastic "abuse" than previously advertised.
While the damage from temperature is not as drastic, it seems to be cumulative and progressive.
Each damaging incident will deteriorate magnets to some varying degree.
The insidious effect is that as the magnets lose their magnetism, achieving the same power will require more amps which will in turn produce more heat which will in turn cause more damage! Causing progressive and accelerating damage!
Battery range and performance will decrease ... when the motor might actually be responsible!
The motor becomes "worn out" ... going out with a whimper rather than a bang!
What to do?
Learn from your mistakes, on your next motors?
The lesser talked about heat damage seems to be how temperature affects permanent magnets!
While "burning up" a motor might involve 300-400ºF +, magnet damage occurs at much lower temperatures!
Exemplified by a simple test, a motors permanent magnets "strength" deteriorates quickly at temperature above 176ºF and seems to totally disappear at 212ºF !
Prolonged and/or higher temperature can make deterioration permanent!
Magnet Experiments: What Happens When a Magnet is Heated
This entry was posted on June 10, 2014 by Apex Magnets.
Magnets can be found in many everyday items and technologies such as cars, phones and computers. It is because of permanent magnets' ability to create their own magnetic field that they are useful in various products and situations. However, they are not impervious. Magnet strength can be affected by certain environmental changes like temperature. The effect of temperature on neodymium magnets is one of the most interesting phenomenons to observe and evaluate. In this magnet experiment, we specifically explore how magnets react when exposed to extreme heat.
Safety Caution: Because this experiment involves potentially dangerous high temperatures and magnets, it is not intended for children and should not be conducted without the proper safety wear.
Supplies
Thermometer (212°F or 100°C)
Plastic tongs
2 Bar neodymium magnets
Safety goggles and gloves
Water
Stove
Pan
Plastic bowl
100 ferrous paper clips
Steps
Part 1: Room Temperature Test
Do a room temperature magnet test first. Pour the paper clips into a plastic bowl.
Submerse one of the neodymium bar magnets into the bowl of clips and remove it, recording the number collected.
Remove the paper clips from the magnet and set it aside. Replace the paper clips in the bowl.
Part 2: Hot Magnet Test
Hot water and metals can cause serious burns, so it is important to take necessary safety measures. Put on safety goggles and gloves.
Heat about ¾ cup water in a small pan until it reaches somewhere between 185°-212°F or 85°-100°C. At boiling point the water should be close to or within this temperature range. Use your thermometer to check that the degree is appropriate.
Using the plastic tongs, gently place the neodymium magnet in the water. Be extremely careful to avoid splashing the hot water.
Let the magnet heat in the water for about 15 minutes.
Carefully remove the magnet from the water with the plastic tongs and place it in the bowl of paper clips.
Observe and record how many paper clips are collected.
Wait until the magnet is fully cooled before attempting to handle it without tongs.
Results
The heated magnet will not pick up the paper clips, or it will pick up very few depending on the temperature and time it was heated. When heated above 176° Fahrenheit (80° Celsius), magnets will quickly lose their magnetic properties. The magnet will become permanently demagnetized if exposed to these temperatures for a certain length of time or heated at a significantly higher temperature (Curie temperature).
Heat demagnetization is also dependent on what types of materials make up a magnet. Some types of magnets such as Samarium-cobalt (SmCo) have higher heat resistance. There are also other types of Neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets that are not as susceptible to heat induced flux degradation.
The Science Behind It
Magnets are made up of atoms. In normal environmental conditions, these atoms align between the poles and foster magnetism. When exposed to hotter conditions, the particles within the magnet are moving at an increasingly faster and sporadic rate. This jumbling confuses and misaligns the particles, causing the magnetism to be lost.
This indicates that motors are damaged by much less drastic "abuse" than previously advertised.
While the damage from temperature is not as drastic, it seems to be cumulative and progressive.
Each damaging incident will deteriorate magnets to some varying degree.
The insidious effect is that as the magnets lose their magnetism, achieving the same power will require more amps which will in turn produce more heat which will in turn cause more damage! Causing progressive and accelerating damage!
Battery range and performance will decrease ... when the motor might actually be responsible!
The motor becomes "worn out" ... going out with a whimper rather than a bang!
What to do?
Learn from your mistakes, on your next motors?