Stainless steel grades 410, 420 and 440 –
The austenitic stainless steel grade 304 is not magnetic but it may become a little magnetic in areas that have been cold working (bending, deforming, etc.).
From our experience 304SS small particles are more likely to be held in the flow than 316 SS particles due to its slightly more magnetic nature.
With its higher nickel composition range, 316 is considered the "most nonmagnetic" stainless steel. However, an item of 316 stainless steel which has significant welding or machining may be sufficiently magnetic to produce a noticeable attraction when brought near a magnet.
The 300-series stainless steels have varying degrees of nickel making them mostly non-magnetic. Devoid of nickel and with a grain structure similar to carbon steel, the 400-series stainless steels are slightly magnetic.
The 400 series are very magnetic (martensitic). They do not contain nickel. 17-4 stainless is a different class of stainless, and contains a little nickel (4%) but has other stuff in it that makes it magnetic.
Grade 303 stainless steel is similar to grade 304 stainless, but with sulfur added to help increase machinability while maintaining both corrosion resistance and mechanical elements that are associated with stainless steel.
Austenitic Stainless Steels
Most stainless steels falling under this category are non-magnetic because they contain high amounts of austenite. Even though some of the metals like grade 304 and 316 have iron in their chemical composition, they are austenite, meaning they are non-ferromagnetic.
The key difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel that makes them different is the addition of molybdenum, an alloy that drastically enhances corrosion resistance, especially for more saline or chloride-exposed environments. 316 stainless steel contains molybdenum, but 304 does not.
409 stainless steel can be almost 90% iron. This means a magnet will stick to it. It will also develop surface rust over time, especially after being exposed to heat.
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.
So while brass isn't magnetic, it can interact with magnetic fields. This happens because the movement of a magnet (or the brass could be moving instead) sets up an electrical current in the brass. This current has its own magnetic field which interacts with the magnet.
Magnet Test: Stainless steel is not magnetic, so if your jewelry is attracted to a magnet, it is likely not real. Hold a magnet near your jewelry and see if it attracts. Acid Test: Real stainless steel will not react to acids like vinegar or lemon juice.
In austenitic steel, there is a higher percentage off chromium, and nickel is also present. In terms of magnetism, it is the addition of nickel that renders the steel non-magnetic.
Stainless Steel 440C is a high carbon chromium stainless steel. It has great corrosion resistance when hardened. It shows great resistance to wear and abrasion. It is magnetic in all conditions and yields the highest hardnesses of hardenable stainless steels.
No, sterling silver is not magnetic. Many people also use magnets to check whether a piece of sterling silver is authentic or fake. Magnets do not react with real sterling silver.
316 contains a minimum 2.0% molybdenum which makes it much more corrosion resistant than 304 however, as it is a more expensive element, generally makes 316 a more expensive grade of metal.
It also contains 18 – 20% chromium and 8-10.50% nickel, and lesser quantities of some other elements. 316 stainless steel is a molybdenum-alloyed steel. The fact that it is also negligibly responsive to magnetic fields means that it can be used in applications where a non-magnetic metal is required.
Acid testing is one test that will separate 304 and 316 grades of stainless steel. Hydrochloric acid attacks 304 grade very rapidly and produces gas, but attacks 316 grade only very slowly.
Some steels are only weakly magnetic, and some are not magnetic at all. Austenitic stainless steels like 304 or 316 stainless are good examples of this. A ferritic stainless like 430 stainless steel, on the other hand, is ferromagnetic. Magnets stick to it.
The Stanley set is made from 18-8 stainless steel which is an austenitic type of food-grade stainless. Magnetic properties of steels are highly dependent on the crystalline structure. 18-8 is a face centered cubic (fcc) crystalline structure which is generally not attracted to magnets.
The materials which get attracted towards a magnet are called magnetic materials. Thus, the hammerhead, the cast iron pan, the tools, and the fridge are all magnetic materials. Steel is a magnetic material as it contains a large portion of iron.
General Properties
Alloy 303 is a non-magnetic, austenitic stainless steel that is not hardenable by heat treatment. It is the free machining modification of the basic 18% chromium / 8% nickel stainless steel.
316 stainless steel is more resistant to corrosion, especially from chlorides, than 304 stainless steel. That makes it a common choice for marine equipment and other applications in which the material is exposed to extremely high concentrations of chlorides or other oxidation agents.
Corrosion Resistance: Grade 304 has higher corrosion resistance to corrosion due to its notable chromium content, whereas grade 302 has lesser chromium content and hence is less corrosion resistant than grade 304. Strength Values: Grade 302 is stronger than grade 304.