Siliconiron

Siliconiron, more commonly known as electrical steel or transformer steel, is a ferritic alloy of iron and silicon. The silicon content typically ranges from 1 to 6.5% by weight. The primary purpose of adding silicon is to increase the electrical resistivity of the steel. This higher resistivity is crucial because it reduces eddy current losses when the material is subjected to alternating magnetic fields.

Another key benefit of silicon is its role in enhancing the magnetic permeability of the iron, which improves the efficiency of magnetic flux conduction. It also reduces magnetic hysteresis loss, a type of energy loss that occurs as the magnetic domains in the material realign. Furthermore, the addition of silicon helps inhibit the aging effect, a gradual loss of magnetic properties over time.

These unique properties make siliconiron the dominant material for the cores of electrical equipment like power transformers, electric motors, and generators. By minimizing energy losses as heat, siliconiron cores enable these devices to operate with higher efficiency, which is vital for large-scale power distribution. The material is almost always used in a laminated form, with thin sheets insulated from one another, to further combat eddy currents. Siliconiron is, therefore, a foundational material in modern electrical engineering and power infrastructure.