Is Stainless Steel Magnetic?
When it comes to classifying stainless steel as having magnetic properties, there is not a simpl yes and no answer. Instead, the proper response would be to state that it depends. Here is some information about stainless steel that will help to identify situations in which this alloy exhibits magnetic properties, and when it does not. It is important to understand that stainless steel is not a pure magnetic metal. In fact, stainless steel is really a collective name for a steel alloy that is mixed with other metals in order to give it the properties that make the metal compound so desirable. For instance, the typical stainless steel contains just over ten percent of chromium. In fact, it is the presence of the chromium that provides stainless steel with the ability to repel permanent stains and keep looking fresh and clean over long periods of time. The chromium essentially creates a protective layer on the alloy that prevents rusting and makes the metal resistant to any real damage. A
Does it depend on the amount of chromium, or nickel alloy? Asked by: James McGuigan Answer Stainless steels are a very broad group of metals. The name was adopted as a generic term for steel alloys with a minimum of 10.5% chromium. The chromium gives the steel its ‘stainless’ properties – essentially corrosion resistance. On the surface of the metal, a very thin chromium-rich oxide layer is formed which is inert – i.e. it prevents the steel from rusting. The advantage of stainless steels over plated steels is that, if scratched or damaged, the steel will ‘self-repair’ as a new oxide layer is formed. In plated steels, scratches in the plate will often lead to corrosion of the steel underneath. In general, the higher the proportion of chromium, the stronger the corrosion resistance of the steel. In addition to chromium, other metals are added to give the steel particular properties such as strength and malleability. Specifically nickel is used to strengthen the oxide layer. As for whethe
