Letter 26019

Sensor installation needs austenitic steels that are 100% non-magnetic [New Zealand] 

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100% Non-magnetic austenitic steels? Is there a austenitic stainless steel alloy that will remain 100% non-magnetic even after machining? Am wishing to replace brass components that are not prooving durable enough... but whatever I replace them with has to remain 'completely non magnetic' so as not to upset field sensors.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

John Brennan
Electronics firm research. - Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

John, there are a lot of metals that will fill this requirement. Certainly beryllium copper, which can be heat treated to HRC 40 or so, will be non-magnetic. 18-8 stainless alloys will be that way if you can be certain they get annealed after machining, and if you don't want to anneal just use a higher alloyed material like 310 or A286. You might consider 7075 aluminum; it has higher strength than brass, and is easy to machine, and likely easier to find than some of the other alloys I'm mentioning. Finally, there are the nickel and cobalt alloys like Inconel 625 or 718 or MP35N that are a pain to machine but have nicely high strength, and you can't get them magnetic.

Lee Gearhart
- East Aurora, NY

Hey Lee... Thanks for the advice and pointers. Very much appreciated. Shall look further into the alloys that you have recommended.

Regards,

John Brennan
- Christchurch, New Zealand.

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