3 Common Questions About Plating and Coating Magnets

Adding plating or coating to your magnet can have huge benefits for its lifetime. Here are three questions commonly asked about plating or coating magnets.

Why plate or coat a magnet?

There are two main reasons to plate a magnet 1) Plating your magnets can help protect them from corrosion due to extreme temperatures or exposure to liquid or vapor. Plating can also help maintain the intended magnetic field while in less-than-ideal environments and 2) Protective plating can offer protection from chipping, flaking, or other damage caused by magnets bumping into each other in transport or after being implemented in their final use.

What are the most common types of plating and coatings used for magnets?

Protective coatings are most common with neodymium iron boron magnets given the material’s susceptibility to corrosion. For certain extreme environments, plating can be applied to samarium cobalt. Listed below are the most common types of plating and coating for magnet material:

What is the difference between passivation and plating/coating a magnet?

Passivation is a common practice that protects magnets for a short period of time (typically 3-6 months). This process is commonly used to protect magnet material from corrosion while being transported. Plating or coating is a long-term solution for protecting magnets. Unlike passivation, once a magnet has been plated or coated it typically cannot be fabricated any further.

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