Hysteresis loss analysis of soft magnetic materials under direct current bias conditions

Direct current bias related hysteresis loss characteristics of three commercially available magnetic materials: (1) an iron based Metglas tape core, (2) a Sendust powder core, and (3) a Mn-Zn based ferrite in both un-gapped and gapped configurations were studied. The measurements are conducted for a fixed external field Hext, a fixed flux swing (ΔB), and a fixed maximum forward magnetization (Bmax) as a function of the external bias field. In all the measurements, a direct correlation is found between permeability and measured loss values as a function of dc bias field. Increased hysteresis losses are measured in the magnetization rotation region in which classical domain theory predicts minimal losses. The observed trends are discussed within the frame work of classical domain theory.