Does Stainless Steel Have Magnetic Properties?

Stainless steel is one of the most sought-after metals in various industries all over the world for many reasons. One of the most valuable properties of stainless steel is its non-porous and thus, resistance to corrosion. You see, stainless steel contains a combination of alloys, including nickel, magnesium, chromium, copper, and iron. It is the chromium coating that gives stainless steel the ability to defend against rust and corrosion.

There are many more wonderful attributes of stainless steel; but what about magnetism? Is stainless steel magnetic? Many people want to know, but many people will tell you different answers. Continue reading to clear up the confusion for good.

We Buy Scrap Steel! 1-888-586-5322
We Buy Scrap Steel! 1-888-586-5322

Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals

Depending on the application, magnetic properties of a stainless steel commodity can have an effect on its performance. This is why you might care whether or not stainless steel is magnetic. Before you can understand the possible magnetic properties of stainless steel, you must first understand ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and the difference between the two.

Ferrous metals are metals, or alloys, that contain iron. The word “ferrous” literally translates to “iron”, making it easy to understand what a non-ferrous metal it. The term “non-ferrous” means “non-iron”, which means that non-ferrous metals are those that do not contain iron. Read our blog, “The Discerning Attributes of Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metal” to understand these differences in better detail.

Stainless Steel and Magnetism

Getting back on topic, the test to identify ferrous and non-ferrous metals is through the use of magnets. Magnets are attracted to iron metal, which means a magnet will stick to something that contains iron, or is ferrous. If you stick a magnet to something, and it does not attract, the item likely does not contain iron, making it non-ferrous. So when you ask whether or not stainless steel is magnetic, you really might want to ask yourself is stainless steel ferrous or non-ferrous metal.

Most people assume stainless steel is magnetic because it contains iron in its chemical composition; but this is where the confusion comes into play. You see, although it contains iron, stainless steel isn’t always magnetic. In addition to containing iron to be magnetic, stainless steel must also be manufactured with a crystal structure arranged in a ferritic or martensitic structure. If it does not have both of these attributes, or mostly consists of of an austenite structure, it may not be magnetic.

Check back with next month’s blog where we will discuss which types of stainless steel are magnetic, and how they compare to austenitic structures, which are not.

Sell Your Scrap Steel for Cash on the Spot!

Garden City Iron and Metal 1-888-586-5322

Call Garden City Iron & Metal at 1-888-586-5322 to sell scrap steel in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding regions. We pay cash on the spot for all scrap metal and metal commodities, including appliances, vehicles, construction equipment, building materials, and much more! Collect all the scrap metal you can, and then sell it to us for the highest profit in town! Request a free estimate or information, today.

What is Prime Scrap Metal?

Also known as “prompt” or “new” scrap, prime scrap metal is a fervently sought-after commodity, and for many good reasons. Continue reading to learn some facts about prime scrap metal, including where to make the most money by selling it in your town.

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Scrap Metal Recycling 1-888-586-5322

Prompt Scrap Metal

Prime scrap metal is simply a manufacturing by-product. Basically, it is the clean, pure, scrap metal that is leftover after a certain type of new product production, whether that be plumbing fixtures, automobiles, or electronics. For this reason, prime scrap metal can come in all sorts of different shapes, sizes, colors, finishes, quality, and composition.

Fun fact: According to reports on Balance.com, prompt scrap metal is said to make up virtually 50% of the ferrous scrap metal supply on the planet! Basically, ferrous metals contain iron, and non-ferrous metals do not. See our blog, “The Discerning Attributes of Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metal” to learn more about ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

Benefits of Scrap Metal Recycling

Scrap metal is easily melted down and repurposed into new commodities. As you can see, recycling scrap metal is a critical initiative for our planet, as it reduces the need to mine for new ores, which takes a lot of energy. So not only does scrap metal recycling help to preserve our natural resources, it reduces the amount of energy, time, money, and harmful emissions it takes to mine for new metal. See our blog, “4 Benefits of Recycling Scrap Metal” to learn the top reasons why you should start a metal recycling effort at home and in the office!

How to Profit From Recycling Scrap Metal

Garden City Iron and Metal 1-888-586-5322

Call Garden City Iron & Metal at 1-888-586-5322 to recycle scrap metal and junk metal commodities in Central and Southern Indiana. We pay cash on the spot for both ferrous and non-ferrous metals, as well as, junk cars, automotive parts, appliances, construction equipment, motorized farming equipment, and much more! Get rid of your junk and make some fast cash at the same time.