How to Test the DC Magnetic Properties of Electrical Steel?

Why Test DC Magnetic Properties of Electrical Steel?

Electrical steel is the core magnetic material in transformers, motors, relays, and other electromagnetic devices. Its DC magnetic properties — often overlooked in favor of AC loss figures — are actually the foundation of material behavior. Understanding them matters for three key reasons:

Know your material from the ground up

DC magnetic testing accurately captures key intrinsic parameters of electrical steel: magnetic induction (BsBm), remanence (BrBr), coercivity (HcHc), and permeability (μμ). These parameters are the essential input data for electromagnetic engineers in magnetic circuit design, simulation, and component selection. In short, they directly determine whether a final product will meet its intended performance targets.

Keep production quality under control

DC magnetic properties are sensitive to factors such as chemical composition, grain orientation, internal stress, and annealing conditions. This sensitivity makes DC testing an effective process monitoring tool. It helps verify annealing results (a drop in coercivity confirms stress relief), ensure batch-to-batch consistency, and detect hidden defects such as impurity issues or abnormal grain growth — all before materials reach production.

Address real-world operating conditions

Not all devices operate on clean AC. For DC relays, electromagnets, magnetic latches, and transformers with DC bias, AC loss data offers little insight. What matters is the DC magnetization curve, which reveals how much force a relay can generate, whether a magnetic latch stays locked, and where saturation occurs under DC bias. Even for AC transformers, understanding DC characteristics is essential when DC bias appears — for example, from power electronics or grid imbalances.

DC testing does not replace AC loss measurement. It answers a different question: What are the fundamental magnetic properties of this material? It is the foundation for material evaluation, process control, DC device design, and electromagnetic simulation.

What Exactly Do You Measure?

Following the international standard IEC 60404-4, DC magnetic property testing focuses on four core parameters:

Plus two essential curves:

• DC magnetization curve (B−HB−H curve) – shows how flux density builds up as the applied field increases. It reveals where the material starts to saturate and how "steep" its response is.

• DC hysteresis loop – the full cycle of magnetization and demagnetization. The area inside the loop represents energy loss per cycle. Key parameters like BrBr and HcHc are read directly from this loop.

Together, these four parameters and two curves form a complete DC magnetic profile of your electrical steel – essential data for material acceptance, process validation, and electromagnetic design.

The Right Tool Makes All the Difference –

Meet TS1000 DC Magnetic Properties Measuring System for Electrical Steel

Now that we've covered why DC testing matters and what parameters to measure, the next question is practical: How do you perform these tests efficiently, accurately, and without getting buried in manual work?

Traditional approaches often involve tedious manual winding, mechanical switching, or low‑accuracy setups. These not only slow down testing but also introduce errors that are hard to trace. You deserve a better way.

That's why we developed the TS1000 DC Magnetic Properties Measuring System for Electrical Steel – a dedicated DC magnetic properties testing system for electrical steel.

TS1000 is a complete solution for measuring the DC magnetic properties of electrical steel. It consists of:

• DC excitation and measurement main unit

• Epstein frame (for standard strip samples)

• Solenoid, Class A / Class B permeameters (optional, for different sample shapes)

• Computer and fully automatic measurement software

Whether you're testing grain-oriented or non-oriented electrical steel, the TS1000 gives you a reliable, repeatable, and standards‑compliant way to obtain the full DC magnetic profile – including BsBm, Br, Hc, μ, the DC magnetization curve, and the hysteresis loop.

Key features of TS1000 DC Magnetic Properties Measuring System for Electrical Steel

• Independent electrical parameter calibration: You can verify and calibrate the system's electrical measurements separately – no guessing, no hidden drift.

• Current‑based magnetic field measurement: Higher accuracy compared to alternative methods. What you measure is what you get.

• Maximum magnetizing field up to 30 kA/m (with 700‑turn Epstein frame): Enough to fully saturate most electrical steel grades – no worrying about whether you've reached BsBm.

• Slow, decreasing‑amplitude demagnetization: Ensures the sample starts from a defined, repeatable magnetic state before each test.

• Continuously adjustable current over a wide range: Smooth excitation control means no abrupt jumps in the magnetizing field – essential for clean hysteresis loops.

• Scanning method without relay range switching: No relay clicks, no sudden range changes. The result: smoother hysteresis loops and more accurate data.

• Modular design (main unit, Epstein frame, etc.): Easy to upgrade or service. No need to replace the entire system when your needs evolve.

• Professional software – automatic measurement, parameter calculation, curve plotting, and data management: Set up a test, click start, and let the system do the work. Review curves and export reports without manual post‑processing.

Magnetization & Permeability Curves (Simulated Impulse Method)

TS1000 DC Magnetic Properties Measuring System for Electrical Steel takes the complexity out of DC magnetic testing. So you can focus on what really matters: evaluating materials, controlling quality, and designing better electromagnetic products.

If you are interested in this product, please feel free to contact us and talk about more details.