This part of IEC 60404 specifies methods for the measurement of AC magnetic properties of soft magnetic materials, other than electrical steels and soft ferrites, in the frequency range 20 Hz to 100 kHz. The materials covered by this part of IEC 60404 include those speciality alloys listed in IEC 60404-8-6, amorphous and nano-crystalline soft magnetic materials, pressed and sintered and metal injection moulded parts such as are listed in IEC 60404-8-9, cast parts and magnetically soft composite materials. The object of this part is to define the general principles and the technical details of the measurement of the magnetic properties of magnetically soft materials by means of ring methods. For materials supplied in powder form, a ring test specimen is formed by the appropriate pressing method for that material. The measurement of the DC magnetic properties of soft magnetic materials shall be made in accordance with the ring method of IEC 60404-4. The determinations of the magnetic characteristics of magnetically soft components shall be made in accordance with IEC 62044-3. NOTE IEC 62044-3 specifies methods for the measurement of AC magnetic characteristics of magnetically soft components in the frequency range up to 10 MHz. Normally, the measurements shall be made at an ambient temperature of (23 ± 5) °C on test specimens which have firstly been magnetized, then demagnetized. Measurements can be made over other temperature ranges by agreement between supplier and purchaser.