Guidelines for Storing and Handling of Iron Powder

and powder mixes

Precautionary measures Recommended maximum storage time
• Store iron powder particles as dry as at RH <60%
possible and indoors at room
temperature. Storage Storage Storage
Product
20 - 25°C 30°C 40°C
• Avoid exposure of sun light for all type of
packages.
Plain Iron powder 6 months 3 months 2 months
• Store the packages on pallets and with
no contact to the walls.
• When recommended maximum Customer mixes 8 months 4 months 2 months

storage time has passed, the material

should be tested to check if any
agglomerates, colour changes or other
changes have occurred.
• At a relative humidity (RH) exceeding
60%, storage time will be shorter than
indicated by the table to the right.

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Preventing the
formation of rust and/or
condensation of water
Winter time (temperatures below approximately 10°C):
The corrosion reaction is slow for iron- and steel
products during winter time due to low temperatures.
Practically, an improper storage/handling of the material
can result in condensation of water during processing of
the powder (mixing, transportation etc) and only in rare
cases rust is formed upon the product. The following
recommendations should mainly be seen as directions
to prevent condensation of water during storage/
handling of iron powder products. The risk of rust
formation is of secondary importance during winter time.
The above directions should be followed for all types of iron powder products used during the cold season of the year.
Recommendations:
• Store iron powder products as dry as possible and
indoors at room temperature.
• The material shall preferably be kept at an even
temperature and have no contact with colder/warmer
wall or floor.
• If the material has low temperature due to
transportation, cold storage etc., it has to be kept at
room temperature sufficient time before usage.
• Make sure that all material in the package has
reached room temperature before usage.

Summer time (temperatures above approximately 10°C):

During summer time high temperatures will speed up recommended that the material is examined/
the corrosion reactions. Practically, an improper storage/ checked for rust within 6 months when stored at
handling of the material can result in condensation of room temperature (20 – 25°C). At increased storing
water and/or the formation of rust upon the material. The temperature the examination/checking should be
following recommendations should be seen as directions done more frequently (at least doubled examination/
to prevent condensation of water during storage/ checking frequency for any raise of temperature with
handling and to prevent rust formation on the product. 10°C).
• If there are temperature variations during storage
Recommendations: the material have to be examined/checked for rust
• Store iron powder products as dry as possible and more frequently. This frequency is higher the higher
indoors at room temperature. the temperature and temperature variations are.
© Höganäs AB (publ.), May 2010.

• The material shall preferably be kept at an even • Opening of sealed packages should be done in close
temperature and have no contact with colder/warmer connection to the usage of the material.
wall or floor. • Make sure that all material in the package has
• At a relative humidity exceeding 60% it is reached room temperature before usage.

The above directions should be followed for all types of iron powder products used during the warm season of the year.