Intended to classify commercially available magnetic materials. The term ""magnetic materials"" denotes substances where the application requires the existence of ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic properties. The classification of magnetic materials is based upon the generally recognized existence of two main groups of products: _Soft magnetic materials (coercivity is less than or equal to 1 000 A/m). Hard magnetic materials (coercivity is greater than 1 000 A/m). Within these main groups, the classification when appropriate recognizes the following characteristics: The main alloying element and the physical state and properties of the material. When possible and convenient, the relationships between these characteristics is identified. Supersedes IEC 601

IEC 60404-1 Ed. 2.0