ARE MAGNETS DANGEROUS?

For decades, permanent magnets have been utilized extensively in industrial settings. However, their familiarity among the general public remains limited. This is primarily due to the fact that magnets are often discreetly integrated within different systems, quietly and efficiently performing their tasks.

While they may have gone unnoticed in the past, magnets are now gradually capturing people’s attention and becoming a focal point of interest. This is because an increasing number of consumer products and toys are incorporating neodymium magnets as a selling point.

Therefore, it is essential to recognise whether magnets, especially neodymium magnets, are potentially risky and to emphasise the importance of handling them with care.

magnet safety finger hurt

Neodymium magnets, known for their exceptional strength, are generally safe when handled responsibly. However, magnets can become dangerous in various situations. Here are some scenarios where magnets can pose a potential risk:

POWERFUL ATTRACTION FORCE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURE.

Neodymium magnets are more powerful than other types of magnets. People who are unfamiliar with their strength may be careless. Fingers and other body parts may be pinched between two magnets. With larger magnets, this type of injury can be serious.

NEODYMIUM MAGNET IS NOT FOR CHILDREN.

Neodymium magnets are not toys. Even though magnetic balls are commercially available, children should not be allowed to handle or play with neodymium magnets. Small magnets can cause choking hazards. If multiple magnets are swallowed, they can attach to each other through the intestinal wall. This can lead to serious health risks and, if diagnosed correctly, requires immediate emergency surgery.

NEODYMIUM MAGNETS CAN AFFECT PACEMAKERS.

Strong magnetic fields can affect pacemakers, ICDs and other implantable medical devices. Many of these devices are manufactured with a feature that disables them with magnetic fields. Care must therefore be taken to avoid inadvertently deactivating these devices.

PEOPLE WHO ARE ALLERGIC TO NICKEL SHOULD AVOID PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO NI COATED MAGNETS.

A small percentage of people are allergic to nickel and the allergic reaction can cause redness and a rash on the skin. People who are allergic to nickel should avoid handling nickel-plated neodymium magnets directly.

NEODYMIUM MAGNETS ARE BRITTLE AND FRAGILE.

Neodymium magnets are made of hard, brittle materials. Although they are made of metal and their nickel plating has a shiny metallic appearance, they are not as durable as steel. Neodymium magnets can flake, chip or shatter if they are allowed to bang together. Goggles should be worn when handling magnets, as broken magnets can launch small pieces at a very fast rate.

NEODYMIUM MAGNET POWDER OR DUST IS COMBUSTIBLE.

Avoid drilling or machining neodymium magnets. When ground into dust or powder, this material is highly combustible. Also neodymium magnets are not easy to drill or machine.

IS MAGNETIC POWDER DANGEROUS?

The particle size of the magnetic powder is generally <180 microns and contains rare earth metals such as neodymium with relatively active chemical properties. Therefore, it is usually defined as flammable dangerous goods when conducting dangerous goods evaluation flammability tests.

In addition, magnetic fine powder is easily oxidized when exposed to air. Therefore special handling is required during transport and storage. For example, special sealing and nitrogen protection packaging are required. At the same time, the storage space needs to be equipped with fire extinguishers and fire sand. Electric welding (cutting), electric drilling, grinding wheel operations, etc. can produce flames and hot surfaces, so non-professionals should avoid operation.

STRONG MAGNETIC FIELDS CAN INTERFERE WITH THE COMPASS AND NAVIGATION.

IATA (International Air Transport Association) and US federal rules and regulations cover the transport of magnets by air and ground delivery. Magnetic fields can affect compasses or magnetometers used in air transport. They can also affect the internal compasses of smartphones and GPS devices.

MAGNETS CAN AFFECT MAGNETIC MEDIA.

Strong magnetic fields can damage magnetic media such as floppy disks, credit cards, magnetic ID cards, magnetic tapes, video tapes or other such devices. They can also damage televisions, VCRs, computer monitors and CRT displays. Avoid placing NdFeB magnets near electronic appliances.

In some cases, strong magnets may be able to have an effect on the data on a hard drive. But if you are asking whether you can use neodymium magnets to erase sensitive data from old hard drives, we recommend that you use more reliable and secure methods, such as data destruction software or physical destruction. This is because modern hard drives use higher performance magnets (higher coercivity) and complicated magnetic circuit technology that makes it impossible to erase data using magnets alone. K&J’s experiments have also demonstrated that strong magnets can affect the internal mechanics of a running drive, but the data is not altered.

THE EFFECT OF MAGNETS ON ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS

The effect of magnets on electronic components is usually minimal, especially in normal everyday use. This is because modern electronic devices are often designed with a certain amount of magnetic shielding to reduce the effects of external magnetic fields on them.

THE EFFECT OF MAGNETS ON SMARTPHONES

Smartphones themselves have a large number of very small magnets inside them. As magnet manufacturers, we deal with magnets on a daily basis. Based on our experience, the magnetic fields we are generally exposed to in our lives do not have a significant impact on our phones. Even if we are occasionally exposed to some environments with strong magnetic fields that have an impact on the phone, the phone will still resume its original function once we leave that environment.
And Apple’s recommendation to avoid using magnets and metal parts in accessories is based on the fact that magnetic fields may interfere with the magnetic compass, rear camera autofocus, optical image stabilisation (OIS) for the rear camera and front camera autofocus, which are not features that all phone models have.

SAFETY IN HANDLING MAGNETS:

When handling magnets, it is essential to prioritize safety. Here are some guidelines to follow:

  • Wear protective gloves when handling larger magnets to prevent pinching or trapping.
  • Keep magnets away from your face or other body parts to avoid injuries caused by sudden attraction or repulsion.
  • Store magnets in a secure place, away from reach of children and pets.
  • Avoid placing magnets near pacemakers, implantable medical devices, or other sensitive medical equipment.

REQUIREMENTS ON PACKING & STORAGE

Permanent magnets are fragile. If slam together, magnets will peel, chip, crack or shatter. Eye protection should be used when handling magnets, since shattering magnets can launch small pieces at great speeds.

Neodymium magnets are easy to get rusty in the presence of moisture.  Even with nickel-copper-nickel plating, magnets are not waterproof. If used in a moist environment, they can corrode and lose magnetic strength.

Powerful magnetic fields can interfere with compasses and navigation. Magnetic fields can influence compasses or magnetometers used in air transport, Smartphone and GPS devices. Hence, there are rules and regulations cover shipping magnets by air and ground delivery from IATA (International Air Transport Association).

Permanent magnets will lose magnetic force at high temperatures. The operating temperature for normal grade is 80°C (175°F). However the actual maximum operating temperature of a magnet can vary depend on the material, grade, magnet shape and how it is used.

Neodymium magnet powder or dust is flammable. Therefore, you should avoid drilling or machining neodymium magnets.

  1. Magnetized products should be packed with lining and shielding
  2. Magnet has strong magnetic force. So we should store it in ventilated, dry and anti-corrosion places to avoid corrosion.
  3. Permanent magnets are powerful. We should use special package to isolate magnetic force and keep outer carton no magnetic force.
  4. It’s better to stock Magnetized products under room temperature.
  5. Move carefully with shake-proof, collision-proof and rain-proof.

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