Difference Between Hard Iron and Soft Iron | Ships Engineering: Technical Wisdom for Marine Professionals

Definition

Hard Iron: Hard iron is iron that is difficult to demagnetize once magnetized.

Soft Iron: Soft iron is iron that is easily magnetized and demagnetized with a small change of magnetic field.

Hard Iron: Hard iron is a hard magnetic material.

Soft Iron: Soft iron is a soft magnetic material.

Hard Iron: Magnetized hard iron cannot be easily demagnetized.

Soft Iron: Magnetized soft iron can be demagnetized.

Hard Iron: Hard iron is used as permanent magnets.

Soft Iron: Soft iron is used as electromagnets.