Effect of alloy elements on corrosion resistance and soft magnetic property of the designed ferritic stainless steel

The effects of alloy elements (Cr, Mn, Cu, Si, Al, Ni, and Ce) on the anti-corrosion behavior and soft magnetic properties of ferritic stainless steel were studied. The results show that the increasing content of Cr, Mn, Cu, and Si ameliorate anti-corrosion behavior, and among the alloy elements, Cu is the most effective to enhance corrosion resistivity. Conversely, the anti-corrosion performance deteriorates with increasing Al and Ce content, despite still maintaining good corrosion resistance overall. Furthermore, in regard to the soft magnetic properties, the regulatory mechanism is more complex and the addition of Cu, Si, and Ce can improve the soft magnetic properties, while their content should be limited. The augmentation of Cr deteriorates the soft magnetic properties, while the increase of Al proves advantageous. Meanwhile, Ni is effective to improve the soft magnetic properties; however, it does not significantly enhance the corrosion resistance, and considering its cost, it is not a necessary element to add. With the optimal composition, the alloy exhibits superior anti-corrosion behavior and softer magnetic properties compared to the commercial grade steel, which can contribute to expanding the applications of ferritic stainless steel.