Postgraduate DiplomaElectronics, Embedded Systems & Telecom Applications open

Diploma in Materials, Losses and BH Curves

Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in magnetic materials, losses and BH curves. 8 modules covering the physics of magnetic materials, soft material families, BH curves and hysteresis, core and winding losses, experimental characterisation and numerical modelling, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration6–8 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Relate the microstructure of materials to their magnetic properties.

02

Select soft magnetic materials according to frequency and application.

03

Interpret BH curves and hysteresis models.

04

Calculate core losses with Steinmetz and iGSE.

05

Estimate winding losses with the Dowell model.

06

Characterise cores experimentally using the two-winding method.

07

Validate numerical models of magnetic components against measurements.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Magnetic materials engineers.
  • Designers of inductive components such as inductors and transformers.
  • Power electronics engineers who need to get magnetics right.
  • Researchers in applied electromagnetism.
  • Characterisation laboratory engineers.
  • Core applications engineers at material and component suppliers.
  • Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter magnetic component manufacturing.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • IEC 60404-2 (magnetic properties of electrical steel strip and sheet by means of an Epstein frame)
  • IEC 60404-6 (magnetic properties of soft magnetic metallic and powder materials at 20 Hz to 100 kHz)
  • IEC 62044-3 (cores of soft magnetic material — magnetic properties at high excitation level)
  • IEC 60404-8-7 (cold-rolled grain-oriented electrical steel strip and sheet)
  • IEC 63300 (test methods for electrical and magnetic properties of magnetic powder cores)
  • IEC 60205 (calculation of the effective parameters of magnetic piece parts)
  • IEC 60401-3 (ferrite materials — guidelines on the format of data in manufacturers' catalogues)
  • FEMM
  • Ansys Maxwell
  • COMSOL Multiphysics AC/DC
  • MATLAB
  • Magnetics Inc. Inductor Designer
Syllabus

8 modules

  1. 1.1Magnetic domains and Bloch walls
  2. 1.2Initial, relative and differential permeability
  3. 1.3Saturation magnetisation and remanence
  4. 1.4Coercivity and soft materials
  5. 1.5Curie temperature
  6. 1.6Magnetocrystalline and shape anisotropy
  7. 1.7Magnetostriction and acoustic noise
  8. 1.8Electrical resistivity and eddy currents
  9. 1.9Ageing and stability of properties
  10. 1.10Practical exercise: interpreting core datasheets
  1. 2.1Manganese-zinc ferrites
  2. 2.2Nickel-zinc ferrites
  3. 2.3Grain-oriented and non-oriented electrical steels
  4. 2.4High-silicon iron-silicon alloys
  5. 2.5Nickel-iron alloys and permalloy
  6. 2.6Amorphous and nanocrystalline materials
  7. 2.7Iron powders and SMC composites
  8. 2.8MPP, Sendust and High Flux alloy powders
  9. 2.9Comparison by application and frequency
  10. 2.10Workshop: material selection for a PFC inductor
  1. 3.1Major and minor hysteresis loops
  2. 3.2Initial magnetisation curve
  3. 3.3Incremental permeability with DC bias
  4. 3.4Effect of temperature on the BH curve
  5. 3.5Asymmetric and biased loops
  6. 3.6Jiles-Atherton model
  7. 3.7Preisach model
  8. 3.8Representation in circuit simulation
  9. 3.9Variability between manufacturing batches
  10. 3.10Lab: BH curve tracing with the two-winding method
  1. 4.1Separation of hysteresis, eddy-current and excess losses
  2. 4.2Steinmetz equation
  3. 4.3Improved generalised Steinmetz equation (iGSE)
  4. 4.4Losses with non-sinusoidal waveforms
  5. 4.5Losses under DC bias
  6. 4.6Relaxation effect in ferrites
  7. 4.7Bertotti model
  8. 4.8Loss maps versus temperature
  9. 4.9Loss databases such as MagNet
  10. 4.10Practical exercise: loss calculation with iGSE
  1. 5.1DC and AC resistance
  2. 5.2Skin effect in conductors
  3. 5.3Proximity effect between layers
  4. 5.4Dowell model
  5. 5.5Litz wire and number of strands
  6. 5.6Foil and planar conductors
  7. 5.7Fringing losses near air gaps
  8. 5.8Optimal split between core and copper
  9. 5.9AC resistance measurement
  10. 5.10Case study: winding optimisation in a transformer
  1. 6.1Loss measurement with the two-winding method
  2. 6.2Sinusoidal and rectangular excitation
  3. 6.3Phase errors in measurement
  4. 6.4Calorimetric loss measurement
  5. 6.5Testing to IEC 60404
  6. 6.6Epstein frame for electrical steels
  7. 6.7Complex permeability measurement
  8. 6.8Temperature control during measurement
  9. 6.9Uncertainty in loss measurement
  10. 6.10Lab: loss measurement on a ferrite toroid
  1. 7.12D and 3D magnetic finite elements
  2. 7.2Non-linear material models
  3. 7.3Coupled thermal simulation
  4. 7.4Losses with real waveforms
  5. 7.5Data-driven behavioural models
  6. 7.6Neural networks for loss prediction
  7. 7.7Integration with circuit simulators
  8. 7.8Model validation against measurements
  9. 7.9Core geometry optimisation
  10. 7.10Workshop: FEM simulation of an inductor with FEMM
  1. 8.1Definition of the application and operating conditions
  2. 8.2Selection of candidate materials
  3. 8.3BH curve measurement set-up
  4. 8.4Loss measurement at several operating points
  5. 8.5Fitting Steinmetz parameters
  6. 8.6Simulation and comparison with measurements
  7. 8.7Material recommendation
  8. 8.8Study conclusions
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final project: final review with your tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so you can combine it with your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is FEMM, Ansys Maxwell, COMSOL Multiphysics AC/DC, MATLAB and Magnetics Inc. Inductor Designer, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for BH curve tracing with controlled excitation, loss measurement on ferrite cores and Epstein frame testing of magnetic sheet. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.

Standards covered: IEC 60404-2, IEC 60404-6, IEC 62044-3, IEC 60404-8-7, IEC 63300, IEC 60205, IEC 60401-3.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of IEC 60404-2, IEC 60404-6 and IEC 62044-3 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:FEMM, Ansys Maxwell, COMSOL Multiphysics AC/DC, MATLAB and Magnetics Inc. Inductor Designer, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:a magnetic characterisation study, from material selection and BH curve and loss measurements to Steinmetz fitting, simulation and a material recommendation, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Application and candidate materials
Define the application and operating conditions and shortlist candidate magnetic materials.
BH curve measurement
Set up the measurement bench and trace the BH curves of the candidate cores.
Loss measurement and fitting
Measure losses at several operating points and fit the Steinmetz parameters.
Simulation and comparison
Simulate the component and compare the model with the measurements.
Final project
Issue a justified material recommendation and present the documented study to your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Magnetic materials engineerInductive component designerPower electronics engineerApplied electromagnetism researcherCharacterisation laboratory engineerCore applications engineer
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
  • Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with FEMM, Ansys Maxwell, COMSOL Multiphysics AC/DC, MATLAB and Magnetics Inc. Inductor Designer, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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