Hi, I ordered a stainless steel chain stopper on ebay.It was described as 316 stainless, however it is magnetic.From what little I understand 316 should not be magnetic only lesser grades are magnectic.should I be conserned?
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Interesting question
I have a feeling that you should be concerned. There are many kinds of stainless steel. 316 as you mentioned is one for marine use. I agree, all the 316 that I have experience with is non magnetic. However, I do not know for a fact if all 316 is non magnetic nor if all marine use stainless is non magnetic. I always understood that 316 was non magnetic because when it was made, the atoms aligned in a way the resulted made a non magnetic alloy. Great question. Somewhere in the last 30 days, I was reading an article about SS and that is what it said. But where was that article? Ed K 26
I have a feeling that you should be concerned. There are many kinds of stainless steel. 316 as you mentioned is one for marine use. I agree, all the 316 that I have experience with is non magnetic. However, I do not know for a fact if all 316 is non magnetic nor if all marine use stainless is non magnetic. I always understood that 316 was non magnetic because when it was made, the atoms aligned in a way the resulted made a non magnetic alloy. Great question. Somewhere in the last 30 days, I was reading an article about SS and that is what it said. But where was that article? Ed K 26
Stainless steel magnetic?
Even austenitic stainless steels, like the 300 series, can become slightly magnetic when they are cold-worked. So if the part has been forged, machined or bent into it's current shape, it may be possible to get a magnet to stick to it. However, it should have nowhere near the magnetic properties of a piece of mild steel. Martensitic grades of stainless steel like the 400 series or 17-7 are magnetic. I don't know that I would call them "lower" grades, they just have different properities, but they do trade corrosion resistance for strength and the ability to be hardened.
Even austenitic stainless steels, like the 300 series, can become slightly magnetic when they are cold-worked. So if the part has been forged, machined or bent into it's current shape, it may be possible to get a magnet to stick to it. However, it should have nowhere near the magnetic properties of a piece of mild steel. Martensitic grades of stainless steel like the 400 series or 17-7 are magnetic. I don't know that I would call them "lower" grades, they just have different properities, but they do trade corrosion resistance for strength and the ability to be hardened.
316 S.S. Reply
I must have misconstrued what Clint was trying to imply, but now I get it. Good stainless steel is not supposed to be magnetic unless it has impurities in the metal. Sometimes when I screw up, I do it royally. Sorry about that. Joe
I must have misconstrued what Clint was trying to imply, but now I get it. Good stainless steel is not supposed to be magnetic unless it has impurities in the metal. Sometimes when I screw up, I do it royally. Sorry about that. Joe
316 stainless
what dave has to say sounds resonable.The piece is slightly magnetic.I can get a magnet to stick, however it is no as magnetic as regular steel.thanks for the replies.
what dave has to say sounds resonable.The piece is slightly magnetic.I can get a magnet to stick, however it is no as magnetic as regular steel.thanks for the replies.
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