Most people believe that because stainless steel contains some iron, it is magnetic, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.
It is important to remember that there are numerous types or classes of stainless steel, which influences their usage, quality, and features. The 18-8 stainless steel is one of these stainless steel grades.
Is 18-8 stainless steel magnetic? Consumers ask about this issue for a variety of reasons, including the fact that it is a fairly common grade of stainless steel, they want to acquire induction 18/8 cookware, or they want to know the proper grade of stainless steel to use in the right environment.
Whatever your motivation, I want you to know that you’ve come to the correct spot; keep reading to find out if 18-8 food-grade stainless steel is magnetic or not.
I8-8 STAINLESS STEEL PROPERTIES
To lay a solid foundation on the 18-8 stainless steel, we have to note first that it is also called the 304 stainless steel food grade Alloy. So, what does it stand for? It simply means that it is comprised of 18% chromium and 8% nickel.
In addition, 18-8 stainless steel is a stainless steel grade from the 300 series or is regarded as the Austenitic stainless steel.
These 300 series of stainless steel have what we call Austenite stabilizers and they include nickel, manganese, and Nitrogen.
The 18-8 or 304 stainless steel has no more than 0.8 percent carbon and at least 50% iron.
The properties of the 18-8 stainless steel include:
- Non-magnetic
- Corrosion-resistant but not like the 18/10 stainless steel
- Wide temperature range
- Good combination of ductility and strength.
- It is more expensive than the 200 series Austenitic stainless steel
It is durable, and easy to maintain due to the qualities and properties of 18/8 stainless steel.
Furthermore, the 18-8 stainless steel material’s characteristics allow it to be utilized for fasteners such as machine screws and nuts; it is also weaker and softer than some grades of stainless steel such as 410.
READ ALSO: IS 18/10 STAINLESS STEEL SAFE?
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IS 304 STAINLESS STEEL MAGNETIC?
The 304 stainless steel grade is also known as 18-8. It is one and the same, therefore the 304 stainless steel grade is not magnetic because it contains 8% of Nickel.
IS 18-8 STAINLESS STEEL MAGNETIC?
The 18-8 stainless steel grade classification is not magnetic because it contains nickel and they are Austenitic stainless steel with no ferrite characteristic.
IS 316 STAINLESS STEEL MAGNETIC?
Stainless steel Alloy 316 or stainless steel grade 18/10 is under the Austenitic stainless steel category, they have non-ferromagnetic properties making them not magnetic.
WHICH IS BETTER 18/8 OR 18/10 STAINLESS STEEL?
First, 18/8 is Alloy 304 and the 18/10 is the Alloy 316. Yes, the 18/10 stainless steel is better than the 18/8 stainless steel because the 18/10 stainless steel can withstand corrosion and harsh chemical environment more than the 18/8 or 304 stainless steel Alloy.
Second, due to their different characteristics, 18/10 stainless steel can be used in most kitchen, refinery, and medical applications that 18/8 cannot.
18-8 STAINLESS STEEL CORROSION RESISTANCE
First, the 18-8 stainless steel includes 18% chromium and 8% nickel. The chromium just binds oxygen to the product’s surface to protect the iron from rust (oxidation), whereas the nickel increases the corrosion resistance of the stainless steel.
As a result, the higher the nickel concentration, the more corrosion-resistant the stainless steel.
So, what does all of this mean? Simply said, alloy stainless steel 304 (18/8) is less corrosion resistant than alloy stainless steel 316 (18/10) since the 18/10 has a larger amount of Nickel, which can resist corrosion, rust, and acidic environments better than the 18-8 stainless steel.
IS 18/8 STAINLESS STEEL GOOD?
Yes, the 18/8 stainless steel is of good quality because it can withstand corrosion from most oxidizing acids even though it is not as strong and durable as the 18/10 stainless steel food grade Alloy.
Because it is food grade and of high quality, 18/8 stainless steel is the most commonly used variety of stainless steel in restaurants and commercial kitchens.
It also has excellent forming and welding capabilities, allowing it to be formed into a wide range of shapes.
Brewing, milk processing, and winemaking are all common applications for 18/8 or 304 stainless steel.
The 18/8 food-grade stainless steel can also withstand corrosion produced by numerous compounds found in fruits, meats, and milk and is found in most refrigerators, stoves, sinks, dishwashers, fermentation vats, and storage tanks.
18-8 STAINLESS STEEL STRENGTH
Every material has characteristics that distinguish it from others. Material strength is one of these characteristics.
The 300 series stainless sheets of steel, such as 316, 304, and others, are Austenitic stainless steels with a yield strength of about 200 megapascals (MPas) when made.
Furthermore, unlike the 400 series stainless steel, the 18-8 stainless steel can be toughened by cold working, which can result in a tenfold increase in yield strength.
Finally, at high temperatures, 18-8 stainless steel keeps its ductility and strength.
