Safety instructions: handling permanent magnets

to know | absolutely Important | highest permitted temperatures | effects on human beings

What you have to know and comply with

 

All persons handling magnetic materials are obliged to comply and conform with these instructions!

The attracting or repelling energies of magnets can be dangerous. Magnets are capable of exerting their repelling or attracting forces over larger distances, this can lead to injuries.

Work only with accredited eye protection and observe all other protective measures!

Sintered magnets are hard and brittle, they splinter into many sharp-edged chips when struck or hit. Any danger of damage should therefore be avoided. The strong inherent pulling forces can cause crushing injuries to the flesh, you must therefore only work with suitable protective gloves!

Attention! Magnets can cause sparks and are under no circumstances to be handled in areas where there is a danger of explosion.

Abrasive dust and shavings from rare-earth magnets are self-inflammatory and burn down at high temperatures. So always work with high quantities of water, never dry. Dried-up abrasive waste can also ignite.

Safety instructions sheet "handling permanent magnets" (PDF, 40 KB)

        

 

Absolutely Important top

• Permanent magnets are not to be exposed to radioactive emissions over long periods, this leads to a loss of magnetic power.
• Rare-earth magnets have to be stored in a dry place, otherwise oxidisation takes place.
• Permanent magnets, especially rare-earth magnets, are soluble under certain conditions and in various mediums. They cannot be used without clarification.
  

 

The highest permitted temperatures top

Alnico magnets 500°C
Hard ferrite-magnets 250°C
Plastic-bound hard ferrite-magnets 160°C (up to 200°C on PPS basis)
Rare-earth magnets 80°C ... 180°C (According to material)
Plastic-bound rare-earth magnets 320°C (According to material)

 

Effects on human beings top

No disadvantageous effects are known to stem from touching magnetic materials. For people with allergies due to contact with ceramic or metallic materials the same rules of care apply when in contact with magnetic materials; they should not work with magnets. Nor are any disadvantageous effects to the human body known to stem from the magnetic fields produced by permanent magnets.

Should you have questions about the handling of magnetic materials please don’t hesitate to ask us. We willingly answer all queries.

 

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