Vicalloy is a family of wrought cobalt-iron-vanadium ferromagnetic alloys known for high coercivity and excellent workability. Unlike brittle cast permanent magnet materials, Vicalloy can be cold worked into wires, strips, and other shapes, then heat treated to develop permanent magnetic properties . Its ability to exhibit a large Wiegand effect—abrupt magnetic switching under an external field—has made it indispensable in energy harvesting devices, sensors, and magnetic actuators.
1. Product Specifications & Physical DataVicalloy is available in wire and strip forms, typically produced by vacuum induction melting (VIM) and cold worked to achieve optimal magnetic properties. The standard composition for Vicalloy I is 52% cobalt, 9.5% vanadium, and balance iron . Available Forms: Wire, strip, rod, and lamination blanks Specifications: ASTM A801 Alloy Type 2, MIL-SPEC compliant
| Chemical Composition (Weight %) | Vicalloy I | Vicalloy II |
|---|
| Cobalt (Co) | 52.0 - 53.0 | 52.0 - 53.0 | | Vanadium (V) | 9.5 - 10.5 | 9.5 - 10.5 | | Iron (Fe) | Balance | Balance | | Carbon (C) | 0.12 max. | 0.12 max. | | Silicon (Si) | 0.50 max. | 0.50 max. | | Manganese (Mn) | 0.50 max. | 0.50 max. |
| Physical Properties | Metric | Imperial |
|---|
| Density | 8.16 g/cm³ | 0.295 lb/in³ | | Curie Temperature | ~850°C | ~1560°F | | Electrical Resistivity | 40 µΩ·cm | 40 µΩ·cm |
| Magnetic Properties (Heat Treated) | Vicalloy I | Vicalloy II |
|---|
| Residual Induction (Br) | 0.9 - 1.2 T | 1.0 - 1.3 T | | Coercive Force (Hc) | 14 - 18 kA/m | 20 - 28 kA/m | | Maximum Energy Product (BH)max | 1.0 - 1.5 kJ/m³ | 2.0 - 3.5 kJ/m³ | | Peak Induction (Bs) | ~2.0 T | ~2.0 T | | Hardness (Heat Treated) | 60 HRC | 60 HRC |
2. Fabrication & Material ComparisonCold Workability: Vicalloy can be cold drawn, swaged, rolled, or machined in the soft (quenched or annealed) state—uncommon for permanent magnet materials . Heat Treatment: Two‑step process: (1) solution anneal at high temperature, (2) age at 550-650°C for 2-16 hours to precipitate non‑magnetic γ phase . Wiegand Wire Processing: Raw Vicalloy wire undergoes specialized cold working (stretching and twisting) followed by heat treatment to create a unique dual‑magnetic core‑shell structure essential for the Wiegand effect .
3. ApplicationsWiegand Wire Energy Harvesting: Self‑powered rotary encoders, gas/water meters, rotation counters Magnetic Sensors: Proximity sensors, speed sensors, position detectors Biasing Magnets: DC motors, servo motors, magnetic actuators, field coils Magnetic Coded Devices: Security tags, magnetic identification systems Hysteresis Motors: Laminations for hysteresis motor rotors Instrumentation: Fluxgate magnetometers, magnetic field sensors
Contact ZYTC Alloy for certified Vicalloy wire and strip with complete traceability, certificates, and competitive pricing. Available in wire diameters from 0.10mm and strip thicknesses from 0.10mm for Wiegand wire production, permanent magnet components, and sensor applications. Email: daisy@zytcsteel.com WhatsApp/WeChat: +86 17335753350 |
