Ferrite Properties and Applications

Ferrite Properties and Ferrite Applications

What is Ferrite?

Ferrite is a ceramic compound, which is made by mixing and firing of iron oxide along with one or two metallic elements which has ferrimagnetic properties such as barium, manganese, nickel, and zinc.

More details on Ferrite, Ferrite Structure, Ferrite Properties and Ferrimagnetism you can find in my previous blog, "Ferrite Structure and Ferrite Properties".

Ferrite Properties and Applications

Below steps signifies the ferrite properties needed for considering ferrite applications (soft ferrite applications);

Common Mode Chokes 

• Ferrite property required is very high permeability, generally in the range of 5000µ to 15000µ.
• For this application ferrite shapes like; toroids, U cores and E cores can be used.

Broadband Transformers

• Ferrite property required is very high permeability, generally in the range of 5000µ to 15000µ.
• Low loss material should be use.
• Material should support good frequency response.
• For this application ferrite shapes like; E cores, U cores, and I cores, Pot cores, toroids, EP cores and RM cores can be used.

Power Converter and Power Inverter Transformers

• Ferrite property required is the permeability in the range of 900µ to 3000µ.
• Low loss material should be use.
• Material should support high saturation.
• For this application ferrite shapes like; E cores, Pot cores, toroids, ETD cores, Planer cores and EV cores can be used.

Differential Mode Inductors

• Ferrite property required is very high permeability, generally in the range of 2300µ to 3000µ.
• Material should stable at high temperature.
• Material should stable at varying load conditions.
• For this application ferrite shapes like; EP cores, Gapped Pot cores, E cores, RM cores, Planer cores and PQ cores can be used.

Narrow Band Transformers

• Ferrite property required is very high permeability, generally in the range of 3000µ to 5000µ.
• Material should support reasonable Q.
• Material should stable at high temperature.
• Material should stable at varying load conditions.
• For this application ferrite shapes like; Pot cores, RM cores, toroids and EP cores can be used.

Noise Filters

• Ferrite property required is very high permeability, generally in the range of 5000µ to 15000µ.
• Material should support good frequency response.
• For this application ferrite shapes like; toroids and drum cores can be used.

Power Inductors 

• Ferrite property required is the permeability in the range of 900µ to 3000µ.
• Material should support high saturation.
• Material should have low losses at high temperature.
• Material should have low losses at high flux densities.
• Material should stable at varying load conditions.
• For this application ferrite shapes like; Pot cores, RM cores, PQ cores, Planer cores and E cores can be used.

Power Transformers

• Ferrite property required is very high permeability, generally in the range of 900µ to 3000µ.
• Material should have low losses at high temperature.
• Material should have low losses at high flux densities.
• Material should support low moving currents.
• For this application ferrite shapes like; Ungapped Pot cores, toroids, EP cores, RM cores, PQ cores, Planer cores and E cores can be used.

Telecom Inductors

• Ferrite property required is the permeability in the range of 2300µ to 3000µ.
• Material should have low losses at high temperature.
• Material should stable at varying load conditions.
• For this application ferrite shapes like; Pot cores, EP cores, RM cores, Planer cores and E cores can be used.

Pulse Transformers

• Ferrite property required is very high permeability, generally in the range of 2300µ to 3000µ.
• Material should have low losses at high temperature.
• Material should have low losses at high flux densities.
• Material should support high saturation.
• For this application ferrite shape like; toroids can be used.

 

Different Types of Ferrites

Conclusion

Properties of ferrite decides the ferrites application. For a ferrite, its geometrical structure along with the ferrite material decides its behavior or properties, which directly decides its use in any application.