Are All Stainless Steel Non-Magnetic?

Author: Eric Morning / Wellong Metal

Date: Dec. 30th, 2019

（Quick clearance version, please check the blue text directly.）

Stainless steel is not all non-m agnetic, depending on the type of stainless steel.

1,  Martensitic stainless steel

Martensitic stainless steel has high strength and high hardness, and the mechanical properties of steel can be adjusted through heat treatment. That is, the toughness and hardness of martensitic stainless steel can be changed by tempering. Martensitic stainless steel is magnetic. Has a slightly lower corrosion resistance than austenitic and ferritic stainless steels.

Common martensitic stainless steels are: 403, 410, 414, 416 etc.

2, Ferritic stainless steel

Ferritic stainless steel is a ferrite structure with a body-centered cubic structure, and its structure cannot be changed by heat treatment. Ferritic Steel with strong magnetism, easy to mold, corrosion resistance and so on.

Common ferritic stainless steels are: 409, 430 etc.

3, Austenitic stainless steel

Austenitic stainless steel has a face-centered cubic structure, so Austentic is non-magnetic. However, when austenitic stainless steel is not uniformly heated or deformed by stamping, there will be a small amount of ferrite inside the steel, so it will show weak magnetism.

Common austenitic stainless steel models are: 316L, 304, 202, 201 etc.

Stainless steel sinks are usually made of austenitic stainless steel.

In summary, some types of stainless steel are magnetic, and some stainless steels are non-magnetic.