Engineering and fabrication
Are there any types of stainless steel that would not attract to a magnet?
I recently purchased a supposedly stainless steel braclet on eBay but when I checked to see if it was attracted to a magnet, it wasn't. I used the magnet to verify it was truly stainless steel. I always thought stainless steel would be attracted to a magnet. Helmut mentioned that 300 series not readily attracted. Does not readily mean not at all, or just barely, or what?
Public Comments
- A magnet works on metals that have a carbon content in them. The more carbon in the material the stronger the attraction.
- Stainless steel is mostly iron which is one of the ferromagnetic metals. So it will attract a magnet. The other ferromagnetic metals are nickel, and cobalt.
- The 300- series stainless steels are not readily attracted by a magnet.
The 400 series are strongly attracted to a magnet.
