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How to remove magnetism caused by mechanical shaping of stainless steel plate?

We bent a thick (10mm) stainless steel plate (originally nonmagnetic) and noticed that the bended area became magnetic. Are there any ways to remove the magnetism?

Jukka Tervahauta
Novatron - Tampere, Finland
2003

Work hardening due to mechanical working causes magnetism in Stainless Steel. The bent portion thus exhibits magnetism. The only way to remove which is by heat treatment i.e. stress reliving of the bent portion. But a problem with this is that oxide layer would form on the heat treated portion which would have to be removed by acid pickling or mechanical grinder.

Rajeev Garg
- Hisar, India
2003

I thought that you could remove magnetism by appropriate degaussing procedures and equipment.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2003

We made small screws from 303ss after machining the screws become magnetic,but our requirement is pure non-magnetic, How to remove the magnetic property of 303 stainless steel? please help to solve this issue very urgent

UNNIKRISHNAN
electronics mfgr - COCHIN,KERALA, India
2006

Ed. note: As the saying goes, there is a right tool and a wrong tool for every job. Posting a question in a public forum like this one is the right tool for many jobs, but the wrong tool for a "very urgent" problem. Please contact a consultant for your urgent problem, Unnikrishnan, as a reader knowledgable in this technology might not stumble upon your problem for months. Good luck!