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.