Changes of the Magnetic Properties during Heat Treatment in AISI 304

The aim of this study was to evaluate changes of the magnetic properties during heat treatment in austenitic stainless steel AISI 304. Investigated changes were caused by plastic deformation in material. Specific composition of alloying elements in austenitic stainless steels has got influence on their deformation behavior. Samples were heat treated before measurement of magnetic properties in different intervals of temperatures. The first series of measurements has shown, that it is necessary to make more precise analysis of temperature intervals in the second part of experiment. For verification of structural changes in material there was used hardness test Vickers method and observation by light optical microscope. There was proven that AISI 304 is slightly magnetic after cold forming, although in general it is considered as non-magnetic