2024-11-22
Stainless steel-Is Stainless Steel Magnetic?
Of the various types of stainless steel, it is ferritic, martensitic, duplex, and precipitation-hardening stainless steels that are most inclined to exhibit magnetic properties. Contrarily, austenitic stainless steel is not magnetic but can become partially magnetic with cold forming.Ferritic Stainless Steels. Ferritic stainless steel is commonly magnetic. This type of stainless steel contains a maximum amount of ferrite in its chemical structure, which is a composite of iron and additional elements. The crystals of ferrite and iron make this type of stainless steel magnetic. However, it is also important to note that some stainless steels with ferrite have a weak magnetic pull.Martensitic Stainless Steels. Many of the martensitic stainless steel grades are magnetic. This is due to iron being the main component in its chemical composition, and it can be ferromagnetic.Duplex Stainless Steels. Duplex stainless steels are most commonly magnetic because they include a blend of ferrite and austenite. The abundant amount of ferrite is mixed in duplex steel which makes it magnetic. But, duplex stainless steels have a higher austenite blend than ferritic steels, which can be slightly weak magnetic.Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steels. It is mainly used for hardened edge (cutting) applications. The material becomes magnetic after hardening.Austenitic Stainless Steels. Austenitic stainless steels have a maximum quantity of austenite which gives them essentially non-magnetic properties. Although some of the alloys, such as grades 304 and 316, contain iron, these materials are non-ferromagnetic. They can be made partially magnetic through special thermal treatment or work-hardening which can form ferrite in some locations. This is why, austenitic grades display vary slight magnetism on any edge that has been mechanically worked, such as the edge of a sheet.