[Coercivity HcJ/HcB]

Coercivity HcJ/HcB

Coercivity is the resistance of a ferromagnetic material to the loss of its magnetization.

We distinguish between:

Coercivity, intrinsic HcJ

The field strength required to reduce the polarization of a magnetic material to zero.

Coercivity, normal HcB

The field strength required to reduce the magnetic induction of a magnetic material to zero.

Only when the externally applied field strength has reached an oppositely directed value - the coercive field strength Hc - does the magnetization B = 0 and the product is demagnetized. The area of ​​the loop passed through with alternating magnetization is a measure of the loss. Materials with low values ​​of Hc and therefore small hysteresis loops are called soft magnetic materials. If Hc is very large, they are called hard magnetic material.

For more information see hysteresis curve.