Which Types of Stainless Steel Are Magnetic?

Stainless steel comes in the category of magnetic as well as non-magnetic. The type of steel can be identified by comparing different set points. The first condition or consideration is the stainless steel contains iron in its chemical structure, and the second requirement is the stainless steel must have a quartz structure designed in a martensitic or ferritic structure. If stainless steel is essentially composed of an austenite structure, then it will non-magnetic in nature.

Which Types of Stainless Steel Are Magnetic?

The Stainless Steel of the magnetic and non-magnetic type that can be classified based on the kind of stainless steel. Here are the magnetic types of stainless steel:

Ferritic Stainless Steels:

Ferritic stainless steels are commonly magnetic. This type of stainless steel contains a maximum amount of ferrite in its chemical structure. Ferrite is a composite of iron and additional elements. The combination of a ferritic crystal composition with iron produces ferritic stainless steel magnetic in nature. But, much ferritic stainless steel can have lower magnetic strength than conventional carbon steel. Ferritic stainless steel includes different grades such as 409, 430, and 439. These grades are magnetic and widely available in the market.

Martensitic Stainless Steels:

Many of the martensitic stainless steel grades are magnetic. The unique crystal structure contains iron in its chemical composition, and it can be ferromagnetic. As stainless steel is one of the types of steel, this includes a sufficient amount of iron in its chemical composition. This makes martensitic stainless steel magnetic in nature. There are different grades in this type of steel which are 410, 420, and 440. All these grades are widely used in many applications and also available readily in the market.

Duplex stainless steels:

Duplex stainless steels are most commonly magnetic in nature 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. Duplex Stainless Steel are started from 2205 grade, which are available in many other grades also.

Austenitic Stainless Steel:

Austenitic stainless steels have a maximum quantity of austenite which gives them essentially non-magnetic properties. Different grades such as 304 and 316 stainless steel contain a massive amount of iron in chemical composition. Austenite indicates they are non-ferromagnetic in nature. Ferrite can build in any location, offering the steel partly magnetic if the crystal formation of austenitic stainless steel is developed by work-hardening or any other appropriate thermal treatment.