Difference between Ferrite and Austenite Steel

The major difference is in the composition. Also the most known difference is the magnetic features. The ferrite materials are magnetic whereas the austenite is non-magnetic. The austenitic stainless steels contain chromium from 16% to 26% depending on the different grades of the austenitic stainless steel. Austenitic steels can be hardened by heat treatment, however they cannot be strengthened by heat treatment. Ferrites are stronger but has less corrosion resistant. They are also ductile and can be formed and machined much better than the austenitic stainless steels.

Ferrite And Austenite Microstructure

Austenite is a heat capable phase of steel. The austenitic steels are also known are stainless steels. The ferritic microstructure can be hard ferrite or soft ferrite. The hard ferrites are difficult to demagnetize and the soft ferrites are easy to demagnetize. The austenitic stainless steels are non-magnetic and the microstructure cannot be altered by heat treatment. The ferrite microstructure can be altered by heat treatment and most ferrites lose their magnetic conditions after heat treatment.

Carbon Solubility In Ferrite And Austenite

The austenitic microstructure allows for carbon solubility more than the ferrite materials. The austenitic stainless steels have different amounts of carbon depending on the different grades of steels. The ferrite materials are used in applications that require magnetic properties and cheaper materials. These are useful in magnetic cores where the electric conductivity, magnetic properties and strength are preferable for the ferrite materials.

Density Of Ferrite And Austenite

Ferrite materials don’t much additions of other materials. The chromium and nickel contents of the austenitic materials increase the density of the austenitic stainless steels. Most austenitic stainless steels have densities above 8 grams per centimeter cube. The density also helps the austenitic materials to be used in high sensitive applications and high end industrial applications. The uses of ferritic materials are in the low range of applications where the austenitic stainless steels are used in petroleum, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, food production, heat exchangers and other industrial applications.

Hardness Of Ferrite And Austenite

The ferritic materials are soft compared to the austenitic stainless steel grades. The inclusion of nickel and chromium contents in the austenitic stainless steel grades improve the hardness and reduce the ductility. The high hardness helps the austenitic materials to be used in construction, transportation and in engineering applications. The ferritic materials have low hardness but high ductility. These properties help the ferritic materials to be used in highly welded, formed and machined applications with low cost.

 

 

• 310
• 304L
• 309
• 304H
• 304
• 347
• 316
• 321
• 304N
• 308L

 

• High Formability
• Low Thermal Conductivity
• Strength at Temperature up to approximately 1900F
• Cold Workability

 

 

 

• 434
• 446
• 430
• Type 409
• Type 442
• 439
• 430L
• 444