2024-11-22
Stainless steel-STAINLESS STEEL – MAGNETIC OR NOT
There is a common but incorrect belief that the Chromium-Nickel or Chromium-Nickel-Molybdenum stainless steel must be “non-magnetic” to be corrosion resistant. This misconception is sometimes carried through another step wherein “reasoning” says that a magnetic material cannot be stainless steel.There are many alloys within the general family of corrosion resistant or “stainless” steels. Some of these alloys are very resistant to chemical attack and at the same time are quite “magnetic”.Where stainless castings are involved, the most important factor controlling magnetic properties is the chemical composition; that is, the percentage of the various elements present in the material. The ASTM specifications for various stainless alloy castings are intended to produce sound castings with good corrosion resistance, but these castings will not necessarily be non-magnetic.