Stainless steels have widespread applications due to their good corrosion resistance, but for certain types of large naval constructions, other requirements are imposed such as high strength and toughness , and modified magnetic characteristics.The magnetic characteristics of a 302 type metastable austenitic stainless steel has been assessed after various cold rolling treatments designed to increase strength by strain inducement of martensite. A grade 817M40 low alloy medium carbon steel was used as a reference material.The metastable austenitic stainless steel after solution treatment possesses a fully austenitic microstructure. However its tensile strength , in the solution treated condition , is low.Cold rolling results in the strain induced transformation to α’- martensite in austenitic matrix and enhances the tensile strength. However , α’-martensite is ferromagnetic , and its introduction to an otherwise fully paramagnetic matrix alters the magnetic response of the material. An example of the mixed martensitic-retained austenitic microstructure obtained after the cold rolling experiment is provided in the SEM micrograph of Figure 1.
