How to Store Neodymium Magnets?

Neodymium magnets are one of the rare earth magnets commonly used today. Also, it’s referred to as NdFeB magnets. You can find it in mobile phones, hard drives, battery-powered tools, and headsets.
Properly storing neodymium magnets is essential if you want them to stay longer. Accidents occur sometimes, and it’s better to be safe when handling the Storing neodymium magnets.
These neodymium magnets can lose their magnetic strength when not stored under the right environmental conditions. They become damaged and ultimately cause danger to the environment.
The following article covers in-depth details on how to store neodymium magnets.
Let us jump right in.

How Should We Store Neodymium Magnets?

Learning to store neodymium magnets is vital if you want them to last longer. They require the right conditions like low humidity and mild temperature.

Here are a few tips when storing neodymium magnets.

• Chemical Protection

Neodymium magnets require a dry and non-corrosive context. They should never be in contact with humid or corrosive environments. Keeping the neodymium magnets wrapped in a Volatile Corrosion Inhibitor (VCI) is appropriate because VCI helps solve a moist. 

So let us know what it is VCI?

VCI is the abbreviation of Volatile Corrosion Inhibitor, which is a Volatile Corrosion Inhibitor referred to as vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitor. When the gas phase anti-rust products are used to protect the packaging, the anti-rust particles of the anti-rust products are vaporized into gas, forming a protective film on the metal surface, cutting off the possibility of metal ions contacting with water and oxygen to achieve the anti-rust effect. Rust at the same time, the other, such as rust, the biggest difference between rust particles inside the gas diffusion amount after packaging automatic adjustment. When the temperature or humidity increases, the amount of rust particle diffusion will increase. On the other hand, the spread of the dust particles quantity decreased. Still, when the outside temperature difference is relatively stable, rust particles will temporarily stop volatilizing. Keep a best anti-rust state until the temperature difference between inside and outside changes again. The anti-rust particles will volatilize again to adjust the gas concentration inside the packaging so that the packaging is always in a stable anti-rust state.

Since neodymium magnets contain iron, copper, and some other metal materials are prone to corrosion when kept in a moist environment. Corrosion affects the strength of a neodymium magnet. When neodymium magnets rust, they cause an air gap, thus producing an insecure bond for ferromagnetic materials. An Air gap greatly affects the performance of a neodymium magnet within an application because It is a potential variable of magnetic pull force.

Neodymium magnets will be oxidized when they come in contact with oxygen in the air. The oxidation can change their appearance and magnetic and physical properties. If their surface is nickel coated, one nickel layer plated may be unable to avoid corrosion in a humid environment. That’s why we need customers to tell us the application environment to choose the applicable coating layer. 

When you need neodymium magnets working for your machine but in a moist operating occasion, we recommend you order neodymium magnets with harder to corrosive coating first, such as nickel-copper nickel three-layer coating.

• Thermal Protection

It would help if you stored neodymium magnets at the lowest temperature. If not, neodymium magnets’ physical and magnetic properties would reach a level where they differ, making them lose their strength.

Thermal protection is essential in letting a neodymium magnet stay longer. A stable room temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for neodymium magnets.

When neodymium magnets are exposed to high temperatures, the tiny particles inside them start vibrating at high speed, making them change their alignment over time. Ultimately, they become demagnetized.

To avoid demagnetizations, don’t store these neodymium magnets above their curie temperature of 590-degree Fahrenheit. Curie temperature is the temperature where neodymium magnets lose their permanent magnetism.

• Keep Them in a Closed Clean Container

When not in use, keep these neodymium magnets in a closed clean container, ideally a wooden one. Also, please keep them in their original wrappings. The storage containers ensure the neodymium magnet remains in a state of adsorption while the gasket remains intact.

Ensure the container is dry to avoid issues like oxidization. A bigger closed container is better. The box needs to allow extra packaging materials, to ensure the neodymium magnets don’t travel outside the box. If they do, they are likely to affect nearby items like phones, televisions, and cell phones.

Neodymium magnets attract iron-containing dust fast, hence need to be kept in a dry and dust-free environment.

They can pull nearby ferrous parts and attract debris to storage containers.

After attracting other substances and dust, they become difficult to clean. The cleaning may affect the surface gloss and the corrosion resistance. A storage case helps you protect your neodymium magnets from environmental factors like water and dust.

Don’t store large neodymium magnets close to each other. They can attract, collide and crash.

• Use a Spacer

Always keep the plastic spacer rings that come with them during packaging for later use. Alternatively, place a piece of wood, thicker plastic, iron sheets with low ferromagnetic properties, or sturdy cardboard within the neodymium magnets. These mediums will allow you to separate the neodymium magnets with ease.

When dealing with large-sized neodymium magnets, ensure a thicker space between two neodymium magnets to enable effortless separation.

• Be Careful When Handling Them

Neodymium magnets are fragile. Their edges can easily be chipped when hard objects or other neodymium magnets hit. When placing these neodymium magnets storage box, tightly snuggle them with paddling. Use bubble wrap, Styrofoam, or Paper. Ensure there is no room for the neodymium magnet to move around.

When neodymium magnets fall hard, or several times it gets demagnetized over time because of mechanical impact.

Also, ensure they are at a safe distance from one another to prevent them from reconnecting.

Always keep them a safe distance away from pets and kids. They can swallow them, which is hazardous to their health.

• Keep Them A Safe Distance from Other Electronics

Don’t store neodymium magnets next to any electronics, especially sensitive ones. Neodymium magnets have negative and positive electrodes. With a circuit embedded in them, they influence the electric currents close to them. When in the presence of strong magnetic fields, they can damage them.

Don’t store the neodymium magnets near equipment with cathode ray tubes CRT or magnetic storage media. When neodymium magnets are placed in the presence of magnetic recorders, the recording data can be affected and sometimes destroyed.

They can additionally affect pacemakers and other implanted medical devices. The strong magnetic fields affect medical devices by tampering with their functions.

Also, don’t store neodymium magnets near hard drivers, tv picture tubes, and debit cards.

• Arrange the Neodymium Magnets Appropriately

When storing next other neodymium magnets, be careful. Always keep their poles aligned in the same direction unless you want them to push each other. Stronger magnetic force can affect the force of weak neodymium magnets.

You can always store the neodymium magnet with a keeper. A neodymium magnet keeper is a small piece of a bar made from steel or iron. It’s placed across a neodymium magnet’s poles to help preserve its strength. It also prevents the neodymium magnets from demagnetizing as it directs the magnetic field.

Alternatively, store the neodymium magnets in pairs to prevent the north and south poles from touching. Poles of the same alignment need not touch. The result may cause magnetic fields to repel, weakening the neodymium magnets over time.

How Long Does Neodymium Magnet Last?

Neodymium magnets are permanent magnets. When maintained properly with optimum working conditions, they lose a fraction of their performance every 100 years.

External factors that may affect the strength of these neodymium magnets include high temperatures, electrical current, humidity, stray neodymium magnets, and magnetic field.

What Happens When Neodymium Magnets Isn’t Stored Properly?

You want to ensure the efficiency of the neodymium magnet and your safety when handling neodymium magnets.

Here are the risks involved when the neodymium magnets aren’t stored correctly

• Damage to the neodymium-magnet leads to demagnetization, especially when stored in the wrong environment.
• It can harm a person handling the neodymium magnet.
• The neodymium magnet can get lost or misplaced.
• Will reduce the life span of the neodymium magnet.

Why Do We Have to Take Care When Storing Neodymium Magnets?

• Neodymium magnet is fragile under a strong impact, such as a strong magnetic

Neodymium magnets are solid, but when people ignore strong magnetic and wrong stores, some will start to hit other neodymium magnets, then all break.

• Can Result in Bodily Harm

When not handled appropriately, neodymium magnets can result in bodily damage. Thus, you must keep these neodymium magnets away from kids and pets. When a child swallows a neodymium magnet, they can suffocate.

Also, when handling them, there is a great force of attraction that can cause injury. Eye and hand injuries are the most common injuries resulting from neodymium. Wear safety glasses and gloves when handling these neodymium magnets.

• Neodymium Powder Is Flammable

Do not drill neodymium magnets, as its powder is highly flammable. It can result in a fire hazard.

Can You Store Neodymium Magnets Outside?

Yes, you can store neodymium magnets outside, depending on the type. Waterproof neodymium magnets are safe to keep outdoors.

However, untreated neodymium magnets that haven’t been made weatherproof using anti-rust paint or transparent lacquer will start rusting when exposed to permanent outdoor use. When not in use, keep your neodymium magnets in a safe place.

Tips to Remember When Storing Neodymium Magnets

Here are a few things to remember every time you are handling neodymium magnets:

• Place the neodymium magnets free from areas with mechanical impacts. They can chip on the edges or hit each other and crash. Don’t also knock or vibrate them violently.
• Always ensure the packaging is correct. A big wooden insulated box will be a nice choice.
• Keep the neodymium magnets in low humid areas.
• Don’t put Small neodymium magnets together with large neodymium magnets.
• Never put the neodymium magnets around objects with strong electric currents.
• Don’t bake the neodymium magnet on fire as it can’t withstand high temperatures, and then be demagnetized.
• Don’t store the neodymium magnets in a heated environment like a radiator or oven. They demagnetize because of up to operating temperature.

Wrapping up

Appropriately storing neodymium magnets assist in increasing their lifespan. You must be careful when managing, packaging, or storing these neodymium magnets. A slight mishandling can result in damage and demagnetization. Also, you could harm yourself in the process.
Ensure to place them in areas with mild temperatures and low humidity.