Before we start, yes, this is for a personal project, but I design with stainless a few times a year and also wonder for the sake of my specification writing with regard to fastener selection, etc.
Austenitic (such as 316) stainless is not magnetic in its "raw" form. However, cold working can realign the grain structure and form a martensite or ferrite within the steel and create magnetism without affecting corrosion potential as it's the chemistry that prevents corrosion and not the magnetism. This I know.
However...I've noticed recently a search for some good stainless steel hardware that all of the flat washers I can find are magnetic. I carry a magnet in my pocket and they snap to it like a block of iron or steel. I get cold working of bolts and maybe nuts...but a flat washer? Is there really that much cold working? Anyone have any thoughts on this? I'm concerned about the quality as I'm replacing a pair of heavily corroded washers on my boat. They sit under stainless fasteners and against a stainless fitting, and the quality of work form the previous owner makes me think they would have at least used "stainless steel" washers there.
Yes, this is for a personal project, but I design with stainless a few times a year and also wonder for the sake of my specification writing with regard to fastener selection, etc.
Thanks!
Austenitic (such as 316) stainless is not magnetic in its "raw" form. However, cold working can realign the grain structure and form a martensite or ferrite within the steel and create magnetism without affecting corrosion potential as it's the chemistry that prevents corrosion and not the magnetism. This I know.
However...I've noticed recently a search for some good stainless steel hardware that all of the flat washers I can find are magnetic. I carry a magnet in my pocket and they snap to it like a block of iron or steel. I get cold working of bolts and maybe nuts...but a flat washer? Is there really that much cold working? Anyone have any thoughts on this? I'm concerned about the quality as I'm replacing a pair of heavily corroded washers on my boat. They sit under stainless fasteners and against a stainless fitting, and the quality of work form the previous owner makes me think they would have at least used "stainless steel" washers there.
Yes, this is for a personal project, but I design with stainless a few times a year and also wonder for the sake of my specification writing with regard to fastener selection, etc.
Thanks!