Modern permanent magnets are made of special alloys that have been foundthrough research to create increasingly better magnets. The most common familiesof magnet materials today are ones made out of aluminum-nickel-cobalt (Alnico),strontium-iron (Ferrites, also known as Ferrites), neodymium-iron-boron (neomagnets, sometimes referred to as "super magnets"), and samarium-cobalt. (Thesamarium-cobalt and neodymium-iron-boron families are collectively known as theRare Earths).