Understanding the difference between ferrous and non-ferrous metals is important, whether or not the metal in your application is magnetic or not magnetic can make a huge difference to your application and ideas.
Metals that naturally attract magnets are known as ferromagnetic metals; magnets will firmly stick to these metals.
Some metals, including iron, are referred to as magnetically soft because they become strong temporary magnets when a strong magnetic field is placed near them and then lose their magnetism when the magnet is removed.
Other metals, such as rare-earth metals like samarium and neodymium and alloys of iron will maintain most of their magnetism even when they aren’t in a magnetic field, which is why they are known as magnetically hard and make good permanent magnets.
What Ferrous Metals Attract Magnets?
Iron content is the main factor in deciding magnetic attractiveness in steel. The higher the iron content the more magnetic the steel.
Stainless Steels
- 403
- 405
- 409
- 410
- 410S
- 410HT
- 416
- 416HT
- 420
- 422
- 430
- 440C
Alloy Steels
- A27
- A148
- A352
- A757
- A216
- A217
- A389
Plain Carbon Steel
- 1010
- 1015
- 1018
- 1020
- 1022
- 1029
- 1030
- 1035
- 1040
- 1045
- 1070
Martensitic Chromium Steel
- 614
- 615
- 616
- 617
- 618
- 619
Martensitic Low-Alloy Steels
- 601
- 602
- 603
- 604