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Stainless steel’s magnetic properties depend on the presence of other metals, such as chromium and nickel. Stainless steel with nickel is not magnetic, while the 400 series with only steel and chromium is magnetic but not strongly so.
When it comes to classifying stainless steel as having magnetic properties, there is no simple yes or no answer. Instead, the correct answer would be to say that it depends. Here is some information about stainless steel that will help you identify when this alloy exhibits magnetic properties and when it doesn’t.
It is important to understand that stainless steel is not a pure magnetic metal. In fact, stainless steel is really a collective name for an alloy of steel that is mixed with other metals to give it the properties that make the metal compound so desirable. For example, typical stainless steel contains just over ten percent chromium.
Indeed, it is the presence of chromium that gives stainless steel the ability to repel permanent stains and maintain a fresh, clean appearance for long periods of time. Chromium essentially creates a protective layer over the alloy that prevents rust and makes the metal resistant to any real damage. Any scratches on the surface are simply filled in by this protective layer, enabling corrosion to be prevented. It is the introduction of chromium into the mixture we call stainless steel that allows the alloy to exhibit magnetic properties.
It is important to note that other metals can be introduced into the steel compound as well as chromium. One such metal is nickel. Essentially, the addition of nickel to the stainless steel compound helps strengthen the protective qualities of the chromium. Generally referred to as a 300 series, stainless steel that contains nickel is not magnetic at all. The reason is that the presence of nickel alters the physical structure of the stainless steel and removes or inhibits any magnetic qualities.
However, magnetic stainless steel does exist. The 400 series, which contains steel and chromium, but without the presence of nickel, has magnetic qualities. While the degree of magnetic attraction can vary, it is not unusual for items made from 400 Series Stainless Steel to provide sufficient attraction to interact with the magnets and, in some cases, to allow small metal objects to adhere to the surface of stainless steel. However, magnetic stainless steel in consumer products does not tend to carry a strong magnetic charge, so there are no practical household uses involving magnetic attraction.
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