Magnetic and magnetoelastic properties of 18% nickel maraging steels

The variation of the magnetic properties of two commercial 18% Ni maraging steels with processing conditions is studied. These steels, notable for their ultra-high mechanical strength properties, do not exhibit the conventional correlation between mechanical and magnetic hardness. Stress is found to have large softening effects on the magnetic properties regardless of metallurgical conditions. This apparently stems from the substantial magnetostriction and relatively low crystal anisotropy of the predominantly Ni-Fe martensitic matrix. In view of this unusual combination of high strength and stress sensitivity, applications in transducers and as cores of specialized apparatus are foreseen.<
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