Stainless Steels - Identification Tests
Magnetic, spark, hardness and acid identification tests for austenitic, martensitic and ferritic stainless steels.
Stainless steels can be hard to identify. The different types can be distinguished by methods as
- magnet testing
- spark testing
- hardness testing
- acid testing
For full table with Sulfuric and Hydrochloric Acid Test - rotate the screen!
| AISI Type | Grade | Group | Magnet Test | Spark Test | Hardness Test | Sulfuric Acid Test | Hydrochloric Acid Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 302 | Chromium- Nickel |
Austenitic | Non- Magnetic |
Few forks - short, reddish | >165 Brinell after heated to 1800 oF and water quench | Strong attack - green crystals and dark surface | Rapid reaction - pale blue-green solution |
| 303 | Spoiled egg odor - heavy black smudge | ||||||
| 303Se | Garlic odor | ||||||
| 304 | Strong attack - green crystals and dark surface | Fast attack - gas formation | |||||
| 308 | Full red without many forks | ||||||
| 309 | |||||||
| 310 | |||||||
| 316 | Few forks - short, reddish | Slow attack - tan surface turns brown | Very slow attack | ||||
| 317 | |||||||
| 321 | Fast attack - gas formation | ||||||
| 347 | |||||||
| 410 | Chromium | Martensitic | Magnetic | Long white with few forks | > 280 Brinell after heated to 1800 oF and water quench | Rapid reaction - dark green solution | |
| 414 | |||||||
| 416 | Spoiled egg odor - heavy black smudge | ||||||
| 416Se | Garlic odor | ||||||
| 420 | Long white-red with burst | ||||||
| 431 | Long white with few forks | ||||||
| 440 A, B, C | Long white-red with burst | ||||||
| 430 | Ferritic | Long white with few forks | 180 - 250 Brinell after heated to 1800 oF and water quench | ||||
| 430F | Spoiled egg odor - heavy black smudge | ||||||
| 430FSe | Garlic odor | ||||||
| 446 | Full red without many forks |
