Materials are categorized into ferromagnetism, ferrimagnetism, paramagnetism, diamagnetism, and anti-ferromagnetism based on their magnetic behavior and bulk magnetic susceptibility. Ferromagnetic and ferrimagnetic materials are together known as magnetic materials, further divided into soft magnetic materials, permanent magnetic materials, gyromagnetic materials, rectangular hysteresis materials, and piezomagnetic materials. A soft magnetic material, also called a soft magnet, contrasts with a hard magnet.
Those new to magnetism often misinterpret “soft” and “hard” literally or as material hardness, confusing a soft magnetic material with a rubber magnet. In truth, “hard” and “soft” refer to magnetic properties, not mechanics. Soft magnetic materials respond rapidly to external magnetic field changes, achieving high magnetic flux density with minimal loss. Featuring low coercivity and high permeability, soft magnets magnetize and demagnetize easily, making soft magnetic materials ideal for magnetic cores in transformers, inductors, motors, and generators.
