Non-magnetic Stainless Steel?

All steel is magnetic up to a certain degree, but some stainless is less magnetic.

Do a google:

http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=1140
http://www.smalley.com/help/MaterialSelectionGuideHelp.asp

Basically, even the less magnetic stainless steels can become magnetic once they are worked.

Chromium is the element that make`s stainless steel stainless or corotion resistant. Stainless steels are iron-chromium alloys (most have a low carbon content) that contain at least 11% chromium. The level is the content at which effective resistance to atmospheric corrosion begins. Other compositions , Nickle, Manganese, Molybdenum, Silicone, Sulfer.

Remember Stainless has many different types 200,300,400 each series has several different types say 301,302,302b,304,304l,305,308, ext. ext. all have a diferent makeup for many different applications. Stainless, brass,aluminium all are non ferrous or non magnetic family even thought they do have a little iron content. As Riffer said stainless can become magntic once worked at once cold worked and would need to be annealed to be brought back to a non magnetic state. David

All solid steel based antennas are non-magnetic, otherwise their conductivity and radiation characteristics would be far less predictable than they are. Sean
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Riffer, thanks for those URL's, and my education! I only have had experience with stainless steel used for other than electronic purposes. I collected knives at one point, so I'm familiar with various types of steel. I checked, and all of my stainless steel blades ARE magnetic. Actually, did you know that a high carbon steel blade will hold a better edge than a stainless steel blade?

Sean, I'm going to have to carry a magnet with me, and check out those solid steel car antennas...hope that I don't get arrested for attempted auto theft :-)

FP: I don't know if factory car antennas are ferrous or non-ferrous. I was primarily talking about about aftermarket RF antennas when i made that comment. I would be curious to find this out myself. I'll test mine and let you know tomorrow : ) Sean
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