04/17/2026
Frequency Matters: How Core Material Selection Changes Above 100 kHz
Once you cross 100 kHz, magnetic design rules start to shift.
Core losses rise quickly, and not all losses scale the same way. While hysteresis loss increases with frequency, eddy current losses rise even faster, making material resistivity a critical factor in high-frequency designs.
That’s where smart material selection makes the difference:
🔹 MnZn ferrites offer offer high resistivity and low core loss at up to 1-3 MHz
🔹 High frequency powder materials such as such as Magnetics' Kool Mµ® family and Edge® are designed specifically to reduce losses in the hundreds of kHz range while handling DC bias
🔹 High-permeability nanocrystalline is preferred in this range when high inductance, compact size, and stability matter most
The takeaway?
Higher frequency doesn’t just shrink designs, it demands better material choices.
At Magnetics, we help engineers match core material to real operating conditions, so performance keeps up as frequency climbs.
