In everyday life, most people believe that stainless steel is non-magnetic and use a magnet to identify it. However, this method is not scientifically sound. Firstly, zinc alloys and copper alloys can mimic the appearance and lack magnetism, leading to the mistaken belief that they are stainless steel. Even the most commonly used stainless steel grade, 304, can exhibit varying degrees of magnetism after cold working. Therefore, relying solely on a magnet to determine the authenticity of stainless steel is not reliable.
So, what causes the magnetism in stainless steel?
According to the study of material physics, the magnetism of metals is derived from the electron spin structure. Electron spin is a quantum mechanical property that can be either "up" or "down." In ferromagnetic materials, electrons automatically align in the same direction, while in antiferromagnetic materials, some electrons follow regular patterns, and neighboring electrons have opposite or antiparallel spins. However, for electrons in triangular lattices, they must all spin in the same direction within each triangle, leading to the absence of a net spin structure.
Generally, austenitic stainless steel (represented by 304) is non-magnetic but may exhibit weak magnetism. Ferritic (mainly 430, 409L, 439, and 445NF, among others) and martensitic (represented by 410) stainless steels are generally magnetic. When stainless steel grades like 304 are classified as non-magnetic, it means their magnetic properties fall below a certain threshold; however, most stainless steel grades exhibit some degree of magnetism. Additionally, as mentioned earlier, austenite is non-magnetic or weakly magnetic, while ferrite and martensite are magnetic. Improper heat treatment or compositional segregation during smelting can result in the presence of small amounts of martensitic or ferritic structures within 304 stainless steel, leading to weak magnetism.
Furthermore, the structure of 304 stainless steel can transform to martensite after cold working, and the more significant the deformation, the more martensite forms, resulting in stronger magnetism. To completely eliminate magnetism in 304 stainless steel, high-temperature solution treatment can be performed to restore a stable austenite structure.
In summary, the magnetism of a material is determined by the regularity of molecular arrangement and the alignment of electron spins. It is considered a physical property of the material. The corrosion resistance of a material, on the other hand, is determined by its chemical composition and is independent of its magnetism.
We hope that this brief explanation has been helpful. If you have any other questions about stainless steel, please feel free to consult EST Chemical's customer service or leave a message, and we will be happy to assist you.
Post time: Nov-15-2023