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19 March 2026 at 16:18 • 2 mins read
Like most things in nature, a metal’s magnetism is derived from the electrons within its core. The uneven distribution of these electrons creates magnetic dipoles through the back-and-forth shifting of an atom’s charge. When the dipoles align, localized magnetic areas are developed. Magnetic fields are completed if the localized magnetic regions point in the same direction.
Ferromagnetic metals have a strong attraction to permanent magnets. However, only a few metals are ferromagnetic, including iron, cobalt, nickel, and some rare earth metal alloys. These materials form the basis of many electric products today, such as electric motors, hard disks, generators, etc. Most permanent magnets are ferromagnetic.
A few different types of magnetism are found in nature; these include ferromagnetic, diamagnetic, and paramagnetic structures, each of which provides its exclusive properties and features. However, only ferromagnetism relates to common solid metals. In general, the three types of ferromagnetic metals include:
Alloy metals that contain any amount of iron, cobalt, or nickel are considered magnetic. The percentage of ferromagnetic elements within a given alloy equates to the overall magnetism the alloy will possess. Metal alloys that contain a ferromagnetic structure include:
Any metal that does not contain iron, cobalt, or nickel will not possess magnetic capabilities. Some of the more common alloys that do not contain a ferromagnetic structure include:
Magnetic metals have an abundance of uses. Most conveniences today rely heavily on using magnets to achieve their overall tasks. Typical applications for magnetic metals include:
With seven locations serving California, Arizona, Nevada, and Northern Mexico, IMS is a full-service metal supplier that understands your needs. Our inventory of metal products includes a broad range of metal shapes and an extensive selection of alloys. We offer the following advantages: