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, but slightly lower than that of austenitic stainless steel;
2. Resistivity
The resistivity increases in the order of carbon steel, ferrite, martensite 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 stainless steel and martensitic stainless steel have magnetism, while austenitic stainless steel has no magnetism, but magnetism will be generated when cold work hardening generates Martensite transformation. Heat treatment can be used to eliminate this Martensite 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.