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Which magnets are afraid of water, and which can be washed without fear?

Do you think cleaning is simple and has nothing to do with exact sciences? No matter how! In the cleanliness process, very unexpected questions may arise. For example, what will happen to a magnetic alloy in contact with water? Translated into homemade - is it possible to wash magnets removed from the refrigerator? And those that hold the decorative ventilation grille?

In most cases, of course, you can. But if everything was so simple, this article would not have been. The fact is that several factors affect the susceptibility of a permanent magnet to moisture.

Fridge magnets

Magnets vs H2ABOUT

How a single magnet reacts to water depends on its nature. That is, from the alloy from which it is made.

Brief educational program on the elements of which permanent magnets can consist:

  • strontium + ceramic material with iron oxide (these are the so-called ferrites);
  • aluminum + nickel + cobalt (magnetic Alnico alloy);
  • neodymium + iron + boron (neodymium);
  • samarium + cobalt (samarium).

These are the 4 most common options.

Neodymium magnets

Humidity is not liked by neodymium magnets: the iron present in the alloy can oxidize. But this does not mean that washing them is categorically contraindicated.

  • First, oxidation does not occur instantly. If you quickly wash the magnet and immediately dry it with a napkin, nothing bad will happen.
  • Secondly, such magnets usually have a moisture resistant coating.

But what exactly does not need to be done with a neodymium magnet is to boil. It loses its properties when heated to 80 ° C and above.

It is worth noting that neodymium magnets are still rarely used in everyday life. They are quite expensive, and to keep a piece of paper with a note on the refrigerator, the strength of the ferrite alloy is quite enough.

Search Magnet

Can I wash a search magnet?

It is enough to recall that metal objects from rivers and streams are usually obtained precisely with the help of such simple metal detectors. Despite being neodymium based, it is reliably protected by a stainless steel case. And this “indestructible” case can be washed and cleaned, even polished if desired.

Electromagnet

Magnetism and electricity

It is important to understand that the foregoing was about permanent magnets. But there are also electric ones. Fortunately, “in their pure form” they do not occur in everyday life, as they hide in the housings of electrical appliances.

Electricity and water - that in the house under no circumstances should be in contact. You can not wash speakers, hard drives, microphones - and, in principle, any household appliances. You can only gently wipe the case with a well-wrung microfiber cloth, after disconnecting the device from the mains.

So, the conclusion is simple: permanent magnets can be washed, electric magnets - under no circumstances. But the latter do not need this, since they are reliably hidden by the housings of electrical appliances.

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