Physical properties of stainless steel

Compared to carbon steel

1. Density

The density of carbon steel is slightly higher than that of ferritic and martensitic stainless steels, but slightly lower than that of austenitic stainless steels;

2. Resistivity

The resistivity increases in order of carbon steel, ferritic, martensitic, and austenitic stainless steel;

3. The ranking of the coefficients of linear expansion is similar, with austenitic stainless steel having the highest coefficient and carbon steel having the lowest coefficient;

4. Carbon steel, ferritic and martensitic stainless steel have magnetism, while austenitic stainless steel has no magnetism. However, magnetism will be generated during the martensitic transformation formed by cold work hardening. Heat treatment methods can be used to eliminate this martensitic structure and restore its non-magnetic state.

Compared with carbon steel, austenitic stainless steel has the following characteristics:

1) High electrical resistivity, about 5 times that of carbon steel.

2) The coefficient of linear expansion is 40% higher than that of carbon steel, and as the temperature increases, the value of the coefficient of linear expansion also increases accordingly.

3) Low thermal conductivity, about one-third that of carbon steel.