Non-magnetic Stainless Steel?


Any metallurgists out there? I assume that this magic feat is done by the trace elements added to produce various kinds of steel, but I thought that ALL steel was magnetic. Does anyone know which trace elements and the different proportions of these trace elements that can transform regular stainless steel into non-magnetic stainless?
fatparrot
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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300 series stainless is non magnetic, while 400 series IS magnetic. I think it has to do with whether or not there is any nickel content.
Trivia - stainless steel was discovered at a plant in northern Indiana. Test alloys were stored outside, one day a janitor got curious and asked why a particular piece of steel that had been out in the weather for quite a while wasn't rusted. Doubt that his name made it on the patent though.
Ok not audio related, just always thought it was a neat story.