Is stainless steel a nonferrous metal?

Answer 1

Stainless steel is a ferrous metal, but it is sometimes classified as nonferrous by the recycling and scrap industries.

A ferrous metal is one that contains primarily iron. Nonferrous metals are all metals other than iron, and alloys without an appreciable iron content.

Chemically, stainless steels are 75-90% iron. They are alloyed with varying amounts of chromium, nickel, and/or molybdenum. Some grades of stainless steel are magnetic, some are not. The different grades also have different welding characteristics; some are easy to weld while others are difficult.

Scrapyards that move ferrous metals with electromagnets may classify the nonmagnetic grades of stainless steel as nonferrous for handling purposes.

Scrap dealers may also categorize stainless steel as nonferrous because the dollar value associated with scrap stainless steel is dependant on the alloy content; the alloys are much more valuable than iron. For these dealers, price is the primary interest and their classification as nonferrous is based on the price they can obtain from the alloy metals in the steel.

These classifications are specialized industry uses of the term nonferrous. Generally and scientifically, all stainless steels are ferrous metals because the majority of their chemical content is iron.
Stainless steel is a ferrous alloy, but it is sometimes classified as nonferrous by the recycling and scrap industries.

Answer 2

All things made of iron are "ferrous". All steel is made of iron.

Answer 3

stainless steel is metallic