Which series of stainless steel is magnetic?

Which series of stainless steel is magnetic?

• A. 300 series
• B. 400 series
• C. 600 series
• D. 900 series

Answer: (B)

Magnetism in stainless steel comes from its crystal structure. Austenitic stainless steels, like the 300 series, have a nickel-stabilized face-centered cubic lattice that is essentially non-magnetic in the annealed state. Ferritic and martensitic stainless steels, which make up the 400 series, have a body-centered cubic or martensitic structure that is magnetic. So the magnetic family is the 400 series. The other series listed—600 and 900—are not magnetic in their typical condition. The key idea is that magnetic behavior aligns with ferritic/martensitic structures, not with austenitic ones.

Magnetism in stainless steel comes from its crystal structure. Austenitic stainless steels, like the 300 series, have a nickel-stabilized face-centered cubic lattice that is essentially non-magnetic in the annealed state. Ferritic and martensitic stainless steels, which make up the 400 series, have a body-centered cubic or martensitic structure that is magnetic. So the magnetic family is the 400 series. The other series listed—600 and 900—are not magnetic in their typical condition. The key idea is that magnetic behavior aligns with ferritic/martensitic structures, not with austenitic ones.