The group has calibration and measurement capabilities (CMC) on soft magnetic materials (steels, ferrites, amorphous materials), from DC to MHz frequencies, and supports industry with measurement certificates compliant with international standards.
The group has a consolidated expertise in the characterisation of soft magnetic materials. Moreover, its metrological expertise allows to offer calibration certificates of equipment and measurement certificates for conventional magnetic materials for industry, or for advanced magnetic materials for research and development.
The studied materials include the traditional magnetic steels (NO an GO FeSi), ferrites and composites for high frequency applications, amorphous and nanocrystalline ribbons (Fe and Co based), thin films with a variety of compositions, Fe-based bulk amorphous materials prepared by Additive Manufacturing.
Multi-scale modelling of the magnetic behaviour of such materials is performed through extensive studies of power losses, from DC up to MHz frequencies: fluxmetric techniques are coupled with measurements involving vector network analysers to cover the whole frequency range. Moreover, the magnetic domains are observed through magneto-optical techniques.
The group is also involved in studying and modelling the complex magnetisation processes that take place in materials for power electronics and rotating electrical machines. These include:
- Dimensional modelling: 1D and 2D measurements that take into account the non uniform flux profiles due to skin effect;
- Stator emulation: the 2D flux of electrical motor stators is reproduced in steel laminates with non oriented grains;
- Analysis of the magnetisation processes and of the power losses in non sinusoidal conditions, with bias, at high frequencies and at temperatures up to 200 °C.
Support to standardisation initiatives and to the industry. The group offers its technical and metrological expertise to other national metrological institutes (NMI) and to standardisation bodies (e.g. IEC TC 68).
- Support to standardisation initiatives: data and methods helping IEC 60404 and ISO standards evolve, according to the EU Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/CE.