Re: coherers

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Mike Kiser by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <clic-at-kiva-dot-net>

The answer to the stainless steel/magnetic question is indeed related to
the alloy. Stainless
steels of the austenitic variety (types 303, 304 and the other 300 series
alloys) will normally
show a slight if any attraction to a magnet. Most other types of stainless,
especially ones
that are hardenable, are magnetic. The term austenitic has something to do
with the
microstructure of the metal. This state can be brought about by the
constituents of the alloy
or by heat. Ordinary steel is austenitic when heated to red heat. At this
temperature a magnet
won't stick to it either.
One strange thing I have noticed about the austenitic stainless is that
when it is cold worked
(hammered, bent or drawn through a wiremaking die) it becomes much more
magnetic. Not like
steel, but much more than before working it.

Mike

Tesla list wrote:

> Original poster: "Ed Phillips by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<evp-at-pacbell-dot-net>
>
> Tesla list wrote:
> >
> > Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
> <Gotubes-at-aol-dot-com>
> >
> > Stainless steel is NOT always magnetic. It depends on the alloy.
> >
> > Bob Niven
>
>         None of the various stainless steel items and stock (sheet, bar,
rod) I
> have here shows the faintest signs of being magnetic, but there must be
> some steels which are since there is frequent reference to "non magnetic
> stainless steel".  Apparently that's what Antonio has.
>
> Ed