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Can it be SUS303 if it's rusty and magnetic?

I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING PRODUCT WITH CERTS READING SUS303 BUT SOME OF THE PARTS ARE RUSTY AND MAGNETIC. CAN THIS HAPPEN WITH THIS MATERIAL?
DEBRA SCHUMACHER

2006

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It is possible if it has been cold worked and has been in contact with regular steel, especially if one were damp or wet.
I would personally suspect that you are nor getting a true 300 series SS. The only way to really tell is to send several small pieces off to a certified testing lab. There are a number of different pieces of equipment that can give readings good enough to tell the materials up to some very very accurate ones.
James Watts
Navarre, Florida
2006

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It looks highly likely that the material supplied is of 400 series, instead of 303 Grade. The qualities described are more consistent to be of 400 series which is magnetic and also corrosive than the 303.
Kiran Patel

2006

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If only some parts are rusty and magnetic then I would either suspect that the parts contain some free iron from the machining process or that the material is mixed with some kind of 400 series. Are the parts Passivated before they arrive?
Kevin W. Gallich

2006