Rubber Magnets VS Neodymium Magnets: What's the Deal?

Intro:
Magnets? They're everywhere! From holding up your kid's artwork on the fridge to being inside heavy-duty industrial machines, magnets get the job done. Two common types you'll see are bendy rubber magnets and super-strong neodymium magnets. Both are magnets, sure, but they are made differently, have different strengths, and are used for totally different things.
This article breaks down what makes them different, so you can pick the right one.

I. What They're Made Of:

Rubber Magnets:
Mix of ferrite powder and rubber
Bendy!
Easy to cut and print on
Usually magnetized with stripes (like N-S-N-S)
Not super strong

Neodymium Magnets (NdFeB):
Made of neodymium, iron, and boron
Super strong magnets
Very brittle; needs a metal coating to keep them safe
Can be magnetized in different ways
The strongest magnets you can buy

II. How Strong Are They?
Rubber magnets are great for light stuff. Neodymium magnets are for when you need serious holding power.

III. What They're Like Physically:
Rubber Magnets:
Soft and Bendable
Cut them with scissors
They come in rolls, sheets, and strips
You can stick stuff to them (like PVC or PET), put adhesive on the back, or print designs on them
Safe; won't shatter if you drop them

Neodymium Magnets (NdFeB):
Hard and easy to break
Need special tools to cut them
Need a coating to protect them (like nickel, epoxy, or zinc)
Come in shapes like discs, blocks, rings, and with holes

IV. Can They Take the Heat?
Rubber magnets don't like high heat. Neodymium magnets can be made to handle higher temperatures, depending on what you need.

V. What's the Damage to your wallet?
Rubber magnets: Cheap! Good if you need a lot.
Neodymium magnets: More expensive, best if you need top performance.
That's why rubber magnets are popular for things like advertising, teaching, and displays.

VI. What Are They Used For?

What Rubber Magnets Do:
* Fridge magnets and ads
* Magnetic whiteboards and teaching tools
* Car signs and display boards
* Seals for doors and windows
* Packaging
* Printable stuff
Pros: Bendy, safe, printable, you can change them, and they don't cost much.

What Neodymium Magnets Do:
* Holding stuff in factories
* Motors and generators
* Sensors and robots
* Furniture
* Electronics
* Tools and hooks
Pros: Super strong, small, and reliable.

VII. Which One Should I Pick?

Go with a rubber magnet if:
* You need to cover a large area
* It needs to bend or be cut easily
* You want to print on it
* You're on a budget
* It needs to be safe and not too heavy

Go with a neodymium magnet if:
* You need a really strong hold
* Size matters; it needs to be small
* You need it to hold heavy things in a factory
* You need precision

VIII. Questions You Might Have
Can rubber magnets replace neodymium magnets? Nope. Rubber magnets aren't strong enough for heavy-duty jobs.
Are rubber magnets safe? Yep, super safe! They won't break and are good for kids and around the house.
Do neodymium magnets rust? Yep. They need a coating to stop that.
Can I change rubber magnets? You bet! You can change the thickness, width, length, how they're magnetized, what's stuck to them, and what's printed on them.