There are two primary types of magnets: electromagnets and permanent magnets. Electromagnets are essentially magnets that have an on and off switch. They have magnet power in the presence of an electrical current and lose their power when this current stops.
As you may have inferred by their name, permanent magnets can create and perpetually maintain their own magnetic field. However, there are a few things that can affect magnet strength. So, how permanent is their magnetism?
Can Permanent Magnet Strength Be Lost?
There are various types of permanent magnet materials and applications that can affect strength. In general, a permanent magnet would only lose a small percentage of strength over several years (i.e. approximately 1% in 10 years) in ideal conditions. This percentage is so small that it doesn’t significantly alter its power. Yet, there are some conditions that can cause a permanent magnet to lose magnetism.
