What are the characteristics of amorphous magnetic materials? In which areas are they primarily applied?

The amorphous magnetic materials commonly referred to are primarily divided into two categories: amorphous alloys and nanocrystalline alloys. They exhibit characteristics such as ‘high efficiency,’ ‘energy saving,’ and ‘high frequency.’

Amorphous magnetic materials play a pivotal role in the following fields:

1. Power Electronics - Energy Saving and High Efficiency

This represents the earliest and most significant application domain for amorphous materials.

Distribution Transformers

Application: Used as transformer cores.

Advantages: The core losses (no-load losses) of amorphous alloy cores are 60-80% lower than those of traditional silicon steel laminations. This delivers highly significant energy savings for power grids operating continuously year-round, earning them the designation ‘green transformers’.

Scenarios: Widely deployed in urban and rural grid upgrades, as well as energy-sensitive applications such as data centres and photovoltaic/wind power stations.

High-frequency magnetic components

Application: Serves as magnetic cores for high-frequency transformers, common-mode chokes, filter inductors, and reactors in various switching power supplies.

Advantages: Maintains low losses and high permeability at high frequencies (e.g., kHz to MHz range), enabling smaller, lighter, and more efficient magnetic components.

Scenarios: Communication power supplies, server power supplies, photovoltaic inverters, on-board chargers (OBC) for new energy vehicles, etc.

2. New Energy Vehicles and Renewable Power Generation - High Power Density

New Energy Vehicles

Applications: High-frequency transformers and PFC inductors in On-Board Chargers (OBC), magnetic components in DC-DC converters.

Advantages: Nanocrystalline materials are particularly well-suited, enabling high efficiency, miniaturisation, and weight reduction in equipment, thereby enhancing vehicle range.

Photovoltaic Inverters and Energy Storage Systems

Applications: Filter inductors and high-frequency transformers within inverters.

Advantages: Efficiently handles high-frequency, high-current loads, boosting overall energy conversion system efficiency.

3. Consumer Electronics and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Suppression Components

Applications: Nanocrystalline cores are the ideal material for manufacturing high-performance common-mode chokes.

Advantages: Exhibits extremely high impedance in the MHz frequency band, effectively suppressing common-mode noise, while possessing high saturation magnetic flux density to withstand significant differential-mode current surges.

Scenarios: Widely employed in smartphone chargers, laptop power adapters, and variable-frequency home appliances to ensure products pass stringent EMC testing.

4. Smart Grids and the Internet of Things (IoT)

Precision Current Sensing

Application: Serves as the magnetic core for high-precision current transformers and Rogowski coils.

Advantages: Nanocrystalline materials exhibit high magnetic permeability and excellent linearity, enabling rapid and precise measurement of small currents.

Applications: Smart meters, industrial control systems, and battery management systems (BMS) for new energy vehicles.

5. High-End and Emerging Fields

Wireless Charging

Application: Serves as magnetic shielding material (magnetic separator) for wireless charging transmitters and receivers.

Advantages: High magnetic permeability effectively confines magnetic fields, reduces eddy current losses, enhances energy transfer efficiency, and prevents heating of metallic objects.

Aerospace and Military

Application: Employed in specialised transformers, inductors, and similar components requiring exceptional reliability and lightweight properties.

Advantages: Its high performance and stability meet operational demands in extreme environments.