Abstract:
Attractive features of soft magnetic composites (SMCs) are high resistivity, isotropic
three-dimensional flux behavior, and easy compression into the complicated shapes required in
electromagnetic devices. Comprehensive understanding of the materials will help optimize design of
electromagnetic devices. This paper presents the magnetization processes in a SMC sample in
micron scale by means of the magneto-optical imaging technique. The sample was magnetized by
magnetic fields tangential or perpendicular to the observation surface. It is observed that the flux
density is higher at the particle region but lower at the interparticle space. When a tangential field
is applied, the stray fields change polarization at the particle boundaries. Both results suggest that
the magnetized sample behaves as a collection of individual magnetized particles rather than as a
uniform and continuous magnetic substance such as soft iron although there are some interactions
between neighboring particles.
