Is Stainless Steel Magnetic?

Most people are unsure whether stainless steel is a magnetic or a non-magnetic metal. Some believe it could be magnetic because it has traces of iron, but in a real sense, the answer is neither a yes or a no. Some stainless steel varieties are magnetic while others aren’t.

What Makes Stainless Steel Magnetic?

For stainless steel to be magnetic, it has to meet certain requirements:

· The alloy must have iron in it.

· The crystal structure of the alloy must be arranged in a martensitic or ferritic structure.

All stainless steel metals are a type of steel. That means their chemical composition contains iron. In most cases, stainless steel varieties with iron in their composition are magnetic. If the alloy has an austenitic crystal structure, then it’s not magnetic.

Which Types of Stainless Steel are Magnetic?

Whether a type of stainless steel is magnetic or not, it can be grouped depending on the type of stainless steel. Some of the typical magnetic stainless steels include:

· Stainless steel grades 409, 430 and 439 also known as ferritic stainless steels.

· Stainless steel grades 410, 420 and 440 – martensitic stainless steels.