2024-11-22
Stainless steel-Are Stainless Steel Fasteners Magnetic?
The micro structure of the metal is what gives the steel its magnetic properties. If the stainless steel chosen was austenitic, e.g. type 316, and a portion of the micro structure were changed to any one of the other four classes then the material would have some magnetic permeability, i.e. magnetism, built into the steel.The micro structure of austenitic stainless steel also changes by a process called martensitic stress induced transformation (MSIT). This is a micro structural change from austenite to martensite and the transformation can occur due to cold working (the process by which many fasteners are made) as well as slow cooling from austenitizing temperatures. Due to martensite being magnetic, the once nonmagnetic austenitic stainless steel will now have a degree of magnetism.