Schetky,L.M. & Perkins,J., "The Quiet Alloys", Machine Design, Apr.6,1978 ranks various metals by Specific Damping Capacity(SDC)which is based on decay rate of strain energy obtained from decay of free oscillation after an initial torsional, bending or axial deflection of a sample bar. The range of SDCs is from 49(Magnesium,wrought) to <0.2(Brasses, bronzes, titanium, nickel-based superalloys). Austenitic, ferritic, and martensitic stainless steels have SDCs of 1, 3 and 8, respectively. The 400 series martensitics have better damping due to magneto-mechanical effects according to Lazan,B.J. & Goodman,L.E., "Effect of Material and Slip Damping on Resonance Behavior", 1956, ASME, Shock and Vibration Instrumentation, pp.55-74. See thread384-49887 for a previous discussion of materials damping.