Austenitic stainless steel is a non-magnetic alloy with a higher nickel and chromium content, which gives it excellent corrosion resistance and good formability. Ferritic stainless steel, on the other hand, has a lower nickel content and higher chromium content, resulting in lower corrosion resistance but better magnetic properties and higher strength.
Austenitic stainless steel is non-magnetic and has a higher nickel content, offering excellent corrosion resistance and good formability. Ferritic stainless steel, on the other hand, is magnetic and contains a higher percentage of chromium, providing good corrosion resistance but lower formability compared to austenitic steel.
The main difference between austenitic and ferritic stainless steel lies in their microstructure. Austenitic stainless steel is non-magnetic and has a face-centered cubic (FCC) crystal structure, while ferritic stainless steel is magnetic and has a body-centered cubic (BCC) crystal structure. Additionally, austenitic stainless steel contains higher amounts of nickel and chromium, which provide enhanced corrosion resistance and excellent formability. On the other hand, ferritic stainless steel contains higher levels of chromium and little to no nickel, making it less corrosion resistant but more resistant to stress corrosion cracking.
