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The Hysteresis Loop and Magnetic Properties

The hysteresis loop shows the relationship between magnetic flux density (B) and magnetizing force (H) in a ferromagnetic material. As the magnetizing force increases, the material becomes magnetically saturated at a point. When the magnetizing force is reduced to zero, some residual magnetism remains. Further reducing the magnetizing force in the opposite direction reduces the flux to zero, known as the coercivity point. The loop traces different paths on increasing and decreasing the magnetizing force. Key magnetic properties like retentivity, residual magnetism, coercive force and permeability can be determined from the hysteresis loop.

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578 views2 pages

The Hysteresis Loop and Magnetic Properties

The hysteresis loop shows the relationship between magnetic flux density (B) and magnetizing force (H) in a ferromagnetic material. As the magnetizing force increases, the material becomes magnetically saturated at a point. When the magnetizing force is reduced to zero, some residual magnetism remains. Further reducing the magnetizing force in the opposite direction reduces the flux to zero, known as the coercivity point. The loop traces different paths on increasing and decreasing the magnetizing force. Key magnetic properties like retentivity, residual magnetism, coercive force and permeability can be determined from the hysteresis loop.

Uploaded by

Ajesh
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© © All Rights Reserved
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The Hysteresis Loop and Magnetic Properties

A great deal of information can be learned about the magnetic properties of a material by
studying its hysteresis loop. A hysteresis loop shows the relationship between the induced
magnetic flux density B and the magnetizing force H. It is often referred to as the B-H
loop. An example hysteresis loop is shown below.

The loop is generated by measuring the magnetic flux B of a ferromagnetic material


while the magnetizing force H is changed. A ferromagnetic material that has never been
previously magnetized or has been thoroughly demagnetized will follow the dashed line
as H is increased. As the line demonstrates, the greater the amount of current applied
(H+), the stronger the magnetic field in the component (B+). At point "a" almost all of
the magnetic domains are aligned and an additional increase in the magnetizing force will
produce very little increase in magnetic flux. The material has reached the point of
magnetic saturation. When H is reduced back down to zero, the curve will move from
point "a" to point "b." At this point, it can be seen that some magnetic flux remains in the
material even though the magnetizing force is zero. This is referred to as the point of
retentivity on the graph and indicates the remanence or level of residual magnetism in the
material. (Some of the magnetic domains remain aligned but some have lost there
alignment.) As the magnetizing force is reversed, the curve moves to point "c", where the
flux has been reduced to zero. This is called the point of coercivity on the curve. (The
reversed magnetizing force has flipped enough of the domains so that the net flux within
the material is zero.) The force required to remove the residual magnetism from the
material, is called the coercive force or coercivity of the material.
As the magnetizing force is increased in the negative direction, the material will again
become magnetically saturated but in the opposite direction (point "d"). Reducing H to
zero brings the curve to point "e." It will have a level of residual magnetism equal to that
achieved in the other direction. Increasing H back in the positive direction will return B
to zero. Notice that the curve did not return to the origin of the graph because some force

is required to remove the residual magnetism. The curve will take a different path from
point "f" back the saturation point where it with complete the loop.
From the hysteresis loop, a number of primary magnetic properties of a material can be
determined.
1. Retentivity - A measure of the residual flux density corresponding to the
saturation induction of a magnetic material. In other words, it is a material's
ability to retain a certain amount of residual magnetic field when the magnetizing
force is removed after achieving saturation. (The value of B at point B on the
hysteresis curve.)
2. Residual Magnetism or Residual Flux - the magnetic flux density that remains
in a material when the magnetizing force is zero. Note that residual magnetism
and retentivity are the same when the material has been magnetized to the
saturation point. However, the level of residual magnetism may be lower than the
retentivity value when the magnetizing force did not reach the saturation level.
3. Coercive Force - The amount of reverse magnetic field which must be applied to
a magnetic material to make the magnetic flux return to zero. (The value of H at
point C on the hysteresis curve.)
4. Permeability, - A property of a material that describes the ease with which a
magnetic flux is established in the component.
5. Reluctance - Is the opposition that a ferromagnetic material shows to the
establishment of a magnetic field. Reluctance is analogous to the resistance in an
electrical circuit.

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