Advancements in soft magnetic materials for future energy needs

Power electronics and motor drives are now transitioning to wide band gap semiconductors, operating at higher frequencies, and enabling faster rotational speeds in electrical machines. This is creating a need for improved soft magnetic materials that can sustain higher flux densities with lower losses. Many different materials and strategies are being pursued and it is almost certain that a mix of soft magnetic materials will be required to meet all current and emerging applications. I will provide a brief overview of the history of soft magnetic materials and discuss some of the most promising approaches to meet the needs of future power electronics and rotating machines.