Sorry, hoping not to be pedantic, but the austenite transforms to martensite, not ferrite. Martensite is also magnetic.This indicates cold working does in fact cause austenite (non magnetic) to transform into ferrite (magnetic) as it is plastically deformed.
If you are taking the position that it is NOT a Rare earth, I'll bite, and if it is a Rare Earth Magnet you send me a Buffalo Nickel, I take the bet!!!! LOL ( I'm thinking that's not your position???)Bet you a Buffalo Nickel that small magnet, is Rare Earth Magnet.
Neodymium magnet - Wikipedia
So let me see, do you have knowledge of the magnetic properties of this shaft prior to this happening? I'm guessing the answer is no. You also probably don't have any documentation indicating exactly what the alloy of our shaft is made from. At least I've never seen sailboats (other than mine) that may have this information. So in fact you have no base line. You are attempting to determine what the alloy is through the use of a magnet. I am going to repeat (with the same caveat the I'm not trying to be pedantic) - you cannot know the alloy from the application of a magnet. What a magnet can tell you is if it is not magnetic, it can't be iron, among other things. However, if it is magnetic, you need to do other testing to know what the alloy is. A magnet can rule things out, but it can't identify what you've got. Just because it's magnetic, only tells you - it's magnetic. End of story.3. I am familiar with cold working and SS magnetic properties. My shaft is strongly magnetic indicating NOT 304 or 316. Could be 17-4 or a similar alloy which are strongly magnetic.
dj
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