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 steel, and slightly lower than that of austenitic stainless steel;

2. Resistivity

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

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

4. Carbon steel, ferritic and martensitic stainless steel have magnetism, while austenitic stainless steel has no magnetism. However, when it undergoes martensitic transformation during cold work hardening, magnetism will be generated. Heat treatment can be used to eliminate this martensitic structure and restore its non magnetism.

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

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

2) The large 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, approximately one-third of that of carbon steel.