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stainless steel

 
Dictionary: stainless steel
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n.

Any of various steels alloyed with at least 10 percent chromium and sometimes containing other elements and that are resistant to corrosion or rusting associated with exposure to water and moist air.


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How Products are Made: How is stainless steel made?
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Background

Stainless steel is an iron-containing alloy—a substance made up of two or more chemical elements—used in a wide range of applications. It has excellent resistance to stain or rust due to its chromium content, usually from 12 to 20 percent of the alloy. There are more than 57 stainless steels recognized as standard alloys, in addition to many proprietary alloys produced by different stainless steel producers. These many types of steels are used in an almost endless number of applications and industries: bulk materials handling equipment, building exteriors and roofing, automobile components (exhaust, trim/decorative, engine, chassis, fasteners, tubing for fuel lines), chemical processing plants (scrubbers and heat exchangers), pulp and paper manufacturing, petroleum refining, water supply piping, consumer products, marine and shipbuilding, pollution control, sporting goods (snow skis), and transportation (rail cars), to name just a few.

About 200,000 tons of nickel-containing stainless steel is used each year by the food processing industry in North America. It is used in a variety of food handling, storing, cooking, and serving equipment—from the beginning of the food collection process through to the end. Beverages such as milk, wine, beer, soft drinks and fruit juice are processed in stainless steel equipment. Stainless steel is also used in commercial cookers, pasteurizers, transfer bins, and other specialized equipment. Advantages include easy cleaning, good corrosion resistance, durability, economy, food flavor protection, and sanitary design. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, 1992 shipments of all stainless steel totaled 1,514,222 tons.

Stainless steels come in several types depending on their microstructure. Austenitic stainless steels contain at least 6 percent nickel and austenite—carbon-containing iron with a face-centered cubic structure—and have good corrosion resistance and high ductility (the ability of the material to bend without breaking). Ferritic stainless steels (ferrite has a body-centered cubic structure) have better resistance to stress corrosion than austenitic, but they are difficult to weld. Martensitic stainless steels contain iron having a needle-like structure.

Duplex stainless steels, which generally contain equal amounts of ferrite and austenite, provide better resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in most environments. They also have superior resistance to cracking due to chloride stress corrosion, and they are about twice as strong as the common austenitics. Therefore, duplex stainless steels are widely used in the chemical industry in refineries, gas-processing plants, pulp and paper plants, and sea water piping installations.

Raw Materials

Stainless steels are made of some of the basic elements found in the earth: iron ore, chromium, silicon, nickel, carbon, nitrogen, and manganese. Properties of the final alloy are tailored by varying the amounts of these elements. Nitrogen, for instance, improves tensile properties like ductility. It also improves corrosion resistance, which makes it valuable for use in duplex stainless steels.

The Manufacturing
Process

The manufacture of stainless steel involves a series of processes. First, the steel is melted, and then it is cast into solid form. After various forming steps, the steel is heat treated and then cleaned and polished to give it the desired finish. Next, it is packaged and sent to manufacturers, who weld and join the steel to produce the desired shapes.

Melting and casting

  • The raw materials are first melted together in an electric furnace. This step usually requires 8 to 12 hours of intense heat. When the melting is finished, the molten steel is cast into semi-finished forms. These include blooms (rectangular shapes), billets (round or square shapes 1.5 inches or 3.8 centimeters in thickness), slabs, rods, and tube rounds.

Forming

  • Next, the semi-finished steel goes through forming operations, beginning with hot rolling, in which the steel is heated and passed through huge rolls. Blooms and billets are formed into bar and wire, while slabs are formed into plate, strip, and sheet. Bars are available in all grades and come in rounds, squares, octagons, or hexagons 0.25 inch (.63 centimeter) in size. Wire is usually available up to 0.5 inch (1.27 centimeters) in diameter or size. Plate is more than 0.1875 inch (.47 centimeter) thick and over 10 inches (25.4 centimeters) wide. Strip is less than 0.185 inch (.47 centimeter) thick and less than 24 inches (61 centimeters) wide. Sheet is less than 0.1875 (.47 centimeter) thick and more than 24 (61 centimeters) wide.

Heat treatment

  • After the stainless steel is formed, most types must go through an annealing step. Annealing is a heat treatment in which the steel is heated and cooled under controlled conditions to relieve internal stresses and soften the metal. Some steels are heat treated for higher strength. However, such a heat treatment—also known as age hardening—requires careful control, for even small changes from the recommended temperature, time, or cooling rate can seriously affect the properties. Lower aging temperatures produce high strength with low fracture toughness, while higher-temperature aging produces a lower strength, tougher material.

    Though the heating rate to reach the aging temperature (900 to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit or 482 to 537 degrees Celsius) does not effect the properties, the cooling rate does. A post-aging quenching (rapid cooling) treatment can increase the toughness without a significant loss in strength. One such process involves water quenching the material in a 35-degree Fahrenheit (1.6-degree Celsius) ice-water bath for a minimum of two hours.

    The type of heat treatment depends on the type of steel; in other words, whether it is austenitic, ferritic, or martensitic. Austenitic steels are heated to above 1900 degrees Fahrenheit (1037 degrees Celsius) for a time depending on the thickness. Water quenching is used for thick sections, whereas air cooling or air blasting is used for thin sections. If cooled too slowly, carbide precipitation can occur. This buildup can be eliminated by thermal stabilization. In this method, the steel is held for several hours at 1500 to 1600 degrees Fahrenheit (815 to 871 degrees Celsius). Cleaning part surfaces of contaminants before heat treatment is sometimes also necessary to achieve proper heat treatment.

Descaling

  • Annealing causes a scale or build-up to form on the steel. The scale can be removed using several processes. One of the most common methods, pickling, uses a nitric-hydrofluoric acid bath to descale the steel. In another method, electrocleaning, an electric current is applied to the surface using a cathode and phosphoric acid, and the scale is removed. The annealing and descaling steps occur at different stages depending on the type of steel being worked. Bar and wire, for instance, go through further forming steps (more hot rolling, forging, or extruding) after the initial hot rolling before being annealed and descaled. Sheet and strip, on the other hand, go through an initial annealing and descaling step immediately after hot rolling. After cold rolling (passing through rolls at a relatively low temperature), which produces a further reduction in thickness, sheet and strip are annealed and descaled again. A final cold rolling step then prepares the steel for final processing.

Cutting

  • Cutting operations are usually necessary to obtain the desired blank shape or size to trim the part to final size. Mechanical cutting is accomplished by a variety of methods, including straight shearing using guillotine knives, circle shearing using circular knives horizontally and vertically positioned, sawing using high speed steel blades, blanking, and nibbling. Blanking uses metal punches and dies to punch out the shape by shearing. Nibbling is a process of cutting by blanking out a series of overlapping holes and is ideally suited for irregular shapes.

    Stainless steel can also be cut using flame cutting, which involves a flame-fired torch using oxygen and propane in conjunction with iron powder. This method is clean and fast. Another cutting method is known as plasma jet cutting, in which an ionized gas column in conjunction with an electric arc through a small orifice makes the cut. The gas produces extremely high temperatures to melt the metal.

Finishing

  • Surface finish is an important specification for stainless steel products and is critical in applications where appearance is also important. Certain surface finishes also make stainless steel easier to clean, which is obviously important for sanitary applications. A smooth surface as obtained by polishing also provides better corrosion resistance. On the other hand, rough finishes are often required for lubrication applications, as well as to facilitate further manufacturing steps.

    Surface finishes are the result of processes used in fabricating the various forms or are the result of further processing. There are a variety of methods used for finishing. A dull finish is produced by hot rolling, annealing, and descaling. A bright finish is obtained by first hot rolling and then cold rolling on polished rolls. A highly reflective finish is produced by cold rolling in combination with annealing in a controlled atmosphere furnace, by grinding with abrasives, or by buffing a finely ground surface. A mirror finish is produced by polishing with progressively finer abrasives, followed by extensive buffing. For grinding or polishing, grinding wheels or abrasive belts are normally used. Buffing uses cloth wheels in combination with cutting compounds containing very fine abrasive particles in bar or stick forms. Other finishing methods include tumbling, which forces movement of a tumbling material against surfaces of parts, dry etching (sandblasting), wet etching using acid solutions, and surface dulling. The latter uses sandblasting, wire brushing, or pickling techniques.

Manufacturing at the fabricator or
end user

  • After the stainless steel in its various forms are packed and shipped to the fabricator or end user, a variety of other processes are needed. Further shaping is accomplished using a variety of methods, such as roll forming, press forming, forging, press drawing, and extrusion. Additional heat treating (annealing), machining, and cleaning processes are also often required.

    There are a variety of methods for joining stainless steel, with welding being the most common. Fusion and resistance welding are the two basic methods generally used with many variations for both. In fusion welding, heat is provided by an electric arc struck between an electrode and the metal to be welded. In resistance welding, bonding is the result of heat and pressure. Heat is produced by the resistance to the flow of electric current through the parts to be welded, and pressure is applied by the electrodes. After parts are welded together, they must be cleaned around the joined area.

Quality Control

In addition to in-process control during manufacture and fabrication, stainless steels must meet specifications developed by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) with regard to mechanical properties such as toughness and corrosion resistance. Metallography can sometimes be correlated to corrosion tests to help monitor quality.

The Future

Use of stainless and super stainless steels is expanding in a variety of markets. To meet the requirements of the new Clean Air Act, coal-fired power plants are installing stainless steel stack liners. Other new industrial applications include secondary heat exchangers for high-efficiency home furnaces, service-water piping in nuclear power plants, ballast tanks and fire-suppression systems for offshore drilling platforms, flexible pipe for oil and gas distribution systems, and heliostats for solar-energy plants.

Environmental legislation is also forcing the petrochemical and refinery industries to recycle secondary cooling water in closed systems rather than simply discharge it. Reuse results in cooling water with elevated levels of chloride, resulting in pitting-corrosion problems. Duplex stainless steel tubing will play an increasingly important role in solving such industrial corrosion problems, since it costs less than other materials. Manufacturers are developing highly corrosion-resistant steels in respond to this demand.

In the automotive industry, one steel manufacturer has estimated that stainless-steel usage per vehicle will increase from 55 to 66 pounds (25 to 30 kilograms) to more than 100 pounds (45 kilograms) by the turn of the century. New applications include metallic substrates for catalytic converters, air bag components, composite bumpers, fuel line and other fuel-system parts compatible with alternate fuels, brake lines, and long-life exhaust systems.

With improvements in process technology, superaustenitic stainless steels (with nitrogen contents up to 0.5 percent) are being developed. These steels are used in pulp-mill bleach plants, sea water and phosphoric-acid handling systems, scrubbers, offshore platforms, and other highly corrosive applications. A number of manufacturers have begun marketing such materials in sheet, plate, and other forms. Other new compositions are being developed: ferritic iron-base alloys containing 8 and 12 percent Cr for magnetic applications, and austenitic stainless with extra low sulfur content for parts used in the manufacture of semiconductors and pharmaceuticals.

Research will continue to develop improved and unique materials. For instance, Japanese researchers have recently developed several. One is a corrosion-resistant stainless steel that displays the shape-memory effect. This type of material returns to its original shape upon heating after being plastically deformed. Potential applications include assembly components (pipe fittings, clips, fasteners, clamps), temperature sensing (circuit breakers and fire alarms), and springs. An improved martensitic stainless steel has also been developed for precision miniature and instrument rolling-contact bearings, which has reduced vibration levels, improved life expectancy, and better surface finish compared to conventional materials.

Where To Learn More

Books

Cleaning and Descaling Stainless Steels. American Iron and Steel Institute, 1982.

Finishes for Stainless Steel. American Iron and Steel Institute, June, 1983.

Llewellyn, D. T. Steels: Metallurgy & Applications. Butterworth-Heinemann, 1992.

MacMillan, Angus, ed. The Steel-Alloying Handbook. Elkay Publishing Services, 1993.

Stainless Steel & Heat Resisting Steels. Iron & Steel Society, Inc., 1990.

Periodicals

Davison, Ralph M. and James D. Redmond. "Practical Guide to Using Duplex Stainless Steels." Materials Performance. January, 1990, pp. 57-62.

Hasimoto, Misao. "Combined Deposition Processes Create New Composites." Research & Development. October, 1989.

Tuthill, Arthur and Richard Avery. "Specifying Stainless Steel Surface Treatments." Advanced Materials & Processes. December, 1992, pp. 34-38.

[Article by: L. S. Millberg]


Sci-Tech Encyclopedia: Stainless steel
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The generic name commonly used for that entire group of iron-base alloys which exhibit phenomenal resistance to rusting and corrosion because of chromium (Cr) content. Contents of Cr exceeding 10%, with carbon (C) held suitably low, make iron effectively rustproof.

Other alloy elements, notably nickel (Ni) and molybdenum (Mo), can also be added to the basic stainless composition to produce both variety and improvement of properties. Over 100 different stainless steels are produced commercially, about half as standardized grades. Some are more properly classed as stainless irons since they do not harden as steel; others are true steels to which corrosion resistance becomes an added feature. Still others that are neither properly steels nor irons introduce totally new classes of materials, from both mechanical and chemical standpoints. See also Alloy; Steel.

Dental Dictionary: stainless steel
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n

A steel that contains a minimum of 12% chromium and approximately 0.5% carbon to resist corrosion.

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: stainless steel
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Any of a family of alloy steels usually containing 10 – 30% chromium. The presence of chromium, together with low carbon content, gives remarkable resistance to corrosion and heat. Other elements, such as nickel, molybdenum, titanium, aluminum, niobium, copper, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, and selenium, may be added to increase corrosion resistance to specific environments, enhance resistance to oxidation (see oxidation-reduction), and impart special characteristics.

For more information on stainless steel, visit Britannica.com.

Architecture: stainless steel
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A high-strength, tough steel alloy; usually contains 4 to 25% chromium with nickel as an additional alloying element; highly resistant to corrosion and rust.

Wikipedia: Stainless steel
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Iron alloy phases
v • d • e

Ferrite (α-iron, δ-iron)
Austenite (γ-iron)
Pearlite (88% ferrite, 12% cementite)
Bainite
Martensite
Ledeburite (ferrite-cementite eutectic, 4.3% carbon)
Cementite (iron carbide, Fe3C)
Steel classes

Carbon steel (≤2.1% carbon; low alloy)
Stainless steel (+chromium)
Maraging steel (+nickel)
Alloy steel (hard)
Tool steel (harder)
Other iron-based materials

Cast iron (>2.1% carbon)
Ductile iron
Wrought iron (contains slag)
The 630-foot (192 m) high, stainless-clad (type 304) Gateway Arch defines St. Louis's skyline.

In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox, is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 11% chromium content by mass.[1] Stainless steel does not stain, corrode, or rust as easily as ordinary steel (it stains less, but it is not stain-proof).[2] It is also called corrosion-resistant steel or CRES when the alloy type and grade are not detailed, particularly in the aviation industry. There are different grades and surface finishes of stainless steel to suit the environment to which the material will be subjected in its lifetime. Common uses of stainless steel are cutlery and watch cases and bands.

Stainless steel differs from carbon steel by the amount of chromium present. Carbon steel rusts when exposed to air and moisture. This iron oxide film (the rust) is active and accelerates corrosion by forming more iron oxide. Stainless steels have sufficient amounts of chromium present so that a passive film of chromium oxide forms which prevents further surface corrosion and blocks corrosion from spreading into the metal's internal structure.

Contents

History

An announcement, as it appeared in the 1915 New York Times, of the development of stainless steel.[3]

A few corrosion-resistant iron artifacts survive from antiquity. A famous (and very large) example is the Iron Pillar of Delhi, erected by order of Kumara Gupta I around the year AD 400. Unlike stainless steel, however, these artifacts owe their durability not to chromium, but to their high phosphorus content, which, together with favorable local weather conditions, promotes the formation of a solid protective passivation layer of iron oxides and phosphates, rather than the non-protective, cracked rust layer that develops on most ironwork.

The corrosion resistance of iron-chromium alloys was first recognized in 1821 by the French metallurgist Pierre Berthier, who noted their resistance against attack by some acids and suggested their use in cutlery. Metallurgists of the 19th century, however, were unable to produce the combination of low carbon and high chromium found in most modern stainless steels, and the high-chromium alloys they could produce were too brittle to be practical.

In the late 1890s, Hans Goldschmidt of Germany developed an aluminothermic (thermite) process for producing carbon-free chromium. In the years 1904–1911 several researchers, particularly Leon Guillet of France, prepared alloys that would today be considered stainless steel.

Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft built the 366-ton sailing yacht Germania featuring a chrome-nickel steel hull in Germany in 1908.[4] In 1911, Philip Monnartz reported on the relationship between the chromium content and corrosion resistance. On October 17, 1912, Krupp engineers Benno Strauss and Eduard Maurer patented austenitic stainless steel.[5]

Similar developments were taking place contemporaneously in the United States, where Christian Dantsizen and Frederick Becket were industrializing ferritic stainless steel. In 1912, Elwood Haynes applied for a U.S. patent on a martensitic stainless steel alloy. This patent was not granted until 1919.[6]

Also in 1912, Harry Brearley of the Brown-Firth research laboratory in Sheffield, England, while seeking a corrosion-resistant alloy for gun barrels, discovered and subsequently industrialized a martensitic stainless steel alloy. The discovery was announced two years later in a January 1915 newspaper article in The New York Times.[3] Brearly applied for a U.S. patent during 1915. This was later marketed under the "Staybrite" brand by Firth Vickers in England and was used for the new entrance canopy for the Savoy Hotel in 1929 in London.[7]

Properties

High oxidation-resistance in air at ambient temperature are normally achieved with additions of a minimum of 13% (by weight) chromium, and up to 26% is used for harsh environments.[8] The chromium forms a passivation layer of chromium(III) oxide (Cr2O3) when exposed to oxygen. The layer is too thin to be visible, and the metal remains lustrous. It is impervious to water and air, protecting the metal beneath. Also, this layer quickly reforms when the surface is scratched. This phenomenon is called passivation and is seen in other metals, such as aluminium and titanium. Corrosion resistance can however be adversely affected if the component is used in a non-oxygenated environment, a typical example being underwater keel-bolts buried in timber.

When stainless steel parts such as nuts and bolts are forced together, the oxide layer can be scraped off causing the parts to weld together. When disassembled, the welded material may be torn and pitted, an effect that is known as galling. This destructive galling can be best avoided by the use of dissimilar materials, e.g. bronze to stainless steel, or even different types of stainless steels (martensitic against austenitic, etc.), when metal-to-metal wear is a concern. In addition, Nitronic alloys (trademark of Armco, Inc.) reduce the tendency to gall through selective alloying with manganese and nitrogen.

Applications

The pinnacle of New York's Chrysler Building is clad with type 302 stainless steel.[9]
An art deco sculpture on the Niagara-Mohawk Power building in Syracuse, New York
Pipes and fittings made of stainless steel

Stainless steel’s resistance to corrosion and staining, low maintenance, relatively low cost, and familiar luster make it an ideal base material for a host of commercial applications. There are over 150 grades of stainless steel, of which fifteen are most common. The alloy is milled into coils, sheets, plates, bars, wire, and tubing to be used in cookware, cutlery, hardware, surgical instruments, major appliances, industrial equipment, and as an automotive and aerospace structural alloy and construction material in large buildings. Storage tanks and tankers used to transport orange juice and other food are often made of stainless steel, due to its corrosion resistance and antibacterial properties. This also influences its use in commercial kitchens and food processing plants, as it can be steam cleaned, sterilized, and does not need painting or application of other surface finishes.

Stainless steel is also used for jewellery and watches. The most common stainless steel alloy used for this is 316L. It can be re-finished by any jeweller and will not oxidize or turn black.

Some firearms incorporate stainless steel components as an alternative to blued or parkerized steel. Some handguns, such as the Smith & Wesson Model 60 and the Colt M1911 can be made entirely from stainless steel. This gives a high-luster finish similar in appearance to nickel plating; but, unlike plating, the finish is not subject to flaking, peeling, wear-off due to rubbing (as when repeatedly removed from a holster over the course of time), or rust when scratched.

Some automotive aftermarket parts manufacturers use stainless steel only for the making of short shifters, shift knobs and Weighted Gear Knobs.

Uses in sculpture, building facades and building structures

  • Stainless steel was in vogue during the art deco period. The most famous example of this is the upper portion of the Chrysler Building (illustrated to the right). Diners and fast food restaurants feature large ornamental panels, stainless fixtures and furniture. Owing to the durability of the material, many of these buildings retain their original appearance.
  • The forging of stainless steel has given rise to a fresh approach to architectural blacksmithing in recent years.
  • The Gateway Arch (picture above) is clad entirely in stainless steel: 886 tons (804 metric tonnes) of 0.25 in (6.4 mm) plate, #3 finish, type 304 stainless steel.[10]
  • Type 316 stainless is used on the exterior of both the Petronas Twin Towers and the Jin Mao Building, two of the world's tallest skyscrapers.[11]
  • The Parliament House of Australia in Canberra has a stainless steel flagpole weighing over 220 tons.
  • The aeration building in the Edmonton Composting Facility, the size of 14 hockey rinks, is the largest stainless steel building in North America.
  • The United States Air Force Memorial has an austenitic stainless steel structural skin.
  • The Atomium in Brussels, Belgium is now clad in stainless steel, after a renovation completed in 2006. Previously the spheres and tubes of the structure were clad in aluminium.
  • The Cloud Gate sculpture by Anish Kapoor, in Chicago US.

Recycling & reuse

Stainless steel is 100% recyclable. An average stainless steel object is composed of about 60% recycled material of which ≈40% originates from end-of-life products and ≈60% comes from manufacturing processes.[12]

Types of stainless steel

There are different types of stainless steels: when nickel is added, for instance, the austenite structure of iron is stabilized. This crystal structure makes such steels non-magnetic and less brittle at low temperatures. For greater hardness and strength, more carbon is added. When subjected to adequate heat treatment, these steels are used as razor blades, cutlery, tools, etc.

Significant quantities of manganese have been used in many stainless steel compositions. Manganese preserves an austenitic structure in the steel as does nickel, but at a lower cost.

Stainless steel chair in use in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The austenitic AISI 304 is proper for use in sea regions due to its high oxidation-resistance

Stainless steels are also classified by their crystalline structure:

  • Austenitic, or 300 series, stainless steels make up over 70% of total stainless steel production. They contain a maximum of 0.15% carbon, a minimum of 16% chromium and sufficient nickel and/or manganese to retain an austenitic structure at all temperatures from the cryogenic region to the melting point of the alloy. A typical composition of 18% chromium and 10% nickel, commonly known as 18/10 stainless, is often used in flatware. Similarly, 18/0 and 18/8 are also available. Superaustenitic stainless steels, such as alloy AL-6XN and 254SMO, exhibit great resistance to chloride pitting and crevice corrosion due to high molybdenum content (>6%) and nitrogen additions, and the higher nickel content ensures better resistance to stress-corrosion cracking versus the 300 series. The higher alloy content of superaustenitic steels makes them more expensive. Other steels can offer similar performance at lower cost and are preferred in certain applications.[citation needed]
The low carbon version of the Austenitic Stainless Steel, for example 316L or 304L, are used to avoid corrosion problem caused by welding. The "L" means that the carbon content of the Stainless Steel is below 0.03%, this will reduce the sensitization effect, precipitation of Chromium Carbides at grain boundaries, due to the high temperature produced by welding operation.
  • Ferritic stainless steels are highly corrosion-resistant, but less durable than austenitic grades. They contain between 10.5% and 27% chromium and very little nickel, if any, but some types can contain lead. Most compositions include molybdenum; some, aluminium or titanium. Common ferritic grades include 18Cr-2Mo, 26Cr-1Mo, 29Cr-4Mo, and 29Cr-4Mo-2Ni. These alloys can be degraded by the presence of σ chromium, an intermetallic phase which can precipitate upon welding.
  • Martensitic stainless steels are not as corrosion-resistant as the other two classes but are extremely strong and tough, as well as highly machineable, and can be hardened by heat treatment. Martensitic stainless steel contains chromium (12-14%), molybdenum (0.2-1%), nickel (0-<2%), and carbon (about 0.1-1%) (giving it more hardness but making the material a bit more brittle). It is quenched and magnetic.
  • Precipitation-hardening martensitic stainless steels have corrosion resistance comparable to austenitic varieties, but can be precipitation hardened to even higher strengths than the other martensitic grades. The most common, 17-4PH, uses about 17% chromium and 4% nickel. There is a rising trend in defense budgets to opt for an ultra-high-strength stainless steel when possible in new projects, as it is estimated that 2% of the US GDP is spent dealing with corrosion. The Lockheed-Martin Joint Strike Fighter is the first aircraft to use a precipitation-hardenable stainless steel—Carpenter Custom 465—in its airframe.
  • Duplex stainless steels have a mixed microstructure of austenite and ferrite, the aim being to produce a 50/50 mix, although in commercial alloys, the mix may be 40/60 respectively. Duplex steels have improved strength over austenitic stainless steels and also improved resistance to localised corrosion, particularly pitting, crevice corrosion and stress corrosion cracking. They are characterised by high chromium (19–28%) and molybdenum (up to 5%) and lower nickel contents than austenitic stainless steels. The most used Duplex Stainless Steel are the 2205 (22% Chromium, 5% Nickel) and 2507 (25% Chromium, 7% Nickel); the 2507 is also known as "SuperDuplex" due to its higher corrosion resistance. Duplex stainless steels properties are achieved with an overall lower alloy content than similar performing super austenitic grades making their selection and use cost effective for many applications.

Comparison of standardized steels

EN-standard

Steel no. k.h.s DIN

 EN-standard

Steel name

 SAE grade UNS
440A S44002
1.4112 440B S44003
1.4125 440C S44004
440F S44020
1.4016 X6Cr17 430 S43000
1.4512 X6CrTi12 409 S40900
410 S41000
1.4310 X10CrNi18-8 301 S30100
1.4318 X2CrNiN18-7 301LN N/A
1.4307 X2CrNi18-9 304L S30403
1.4306 X2CrNi19-11 304L S30403
1.4311 X2CrNiN18-10 304LN S30453
1.4301 X5CrNi18-10 304 S30400
1.4948 X6CrNi18-11 304H S30409
1.4303 X5CrNi18-12 305 S30500
X5CrNi30-9 312
1.4541 X6CrNiTi18-10 321 S32100
1.4878 X12CrNiTi18-9 321H S32109
1.4404 X2CrNiMo17-12-2 316L S31603
1.4401 X5CrNiMo17-12-2 316 S31600
1.4406 X2CrNiMoN17-12-2 316LN S31653
1.4432 X2CrNiMo17-12-3 316L S31603
1.4435 X2CrNiMo18-14-3 316L S31603
1.4436 X3CrNiMo17-13-3 316 S31600
1.4571 X6CrNiMoTi17-12-2 316Ti S31635
1.4429 X2CrNiMoN17-13-3 316LN S31653
1.4438 X2CrNiMo18-15-4 317L S31703
1.4539 X1NiCrMoCu25-20-5 904L N08904
1.4547 X1CrNiMoCuN20-18-7 N/A S31254

Stainless steel grades

The SAE steel grades are the most commonly used grading system in the US for stainless steel. Other steel grades include the UNS grades.

  • 100 Series—austenitic chromium-nickel-manganese alloys
    • Type 101—austenitic that is hardenable through cold working for furniture
    • Type 102—austenitic general purpose stainless steel working for furniture
  • 200 Series—austenitic chromium-nickel-manganese alloys
    • Type 201—austenitic that is hardenable through cold working
    • Type 202—austenitic general purpose stainless steel
  • 300 Series—austenitic chromium-nickel alloys
    • Type 301—highly ductile, for formed products. Also hardens rapidly during mechanical working. Good weldability. Better wear resistance and fatigue strength than 304.
    • Type 302—same corrosion resistance as 304, with slightly higher strength due to additional carbon.
    • Type 303—free machining version of 304 via addition of sulfur and phosphorus. Also referred to as "A1" in accordance with ISO 3506.[13]
    • Type 304—the most common grade; the classic 18/8 stainless steel. Also referred to as "A2" in accordance with ISO 3506.[13]
    • Type 304L— same as the 304 grade but contains less carbon to increase weldability. Is slightly weaker than 304.
    • Type 304LN—same as 304L, but also nitrogen is added to obtain a much higher yield and tensile strength than 304L.
    • Type 308—used as the filler metal when welding 304
    • Type 309—better temperature resistance than 304, also sometimes used as filler metal when welding dissimilar steels, along with inconel.
    • Type 316—the second most common grade (after 304); for food and surgical stainless steel uses; alloy addition of molybdenum prevents specific forms of corrosion. It is also known as marine grade stainless steel due to its increased resistance to chloride corrosion compared to type 304. 316 is often used for building nuclear reprocessing plants.[13]
    • Type 316L—extra low carbon grade of 316, generally used in stainless steel watches and marine applications due to its high resistance to corrosion. Also referred to as "A4" in accordance with ISO 3506.
    • Type 316Ti—includes titanium for heat resistance, therefore it is used in flexible chimney liners.
    • Type 321—similar to 304 but lower risk of weld decay due to addition of titanium. See also 347 with addition of niobium for desensitization during welding.
  • 400 Series—ferritic and martensitic chromium alloys
    • Type 405— ferritic for welding applications
    • Type 408—heat-resistant; poor corrosion resistance; 11% chromium, 8% nickel.
    • Type 409—cheapest type; used for automobile exhausts; ferritic (iron/chromium only).
    • Type 410—martensitic (high-strength iron/chromium). Wear-resistant, but less corrosion-resistant.
    • Type 416—easy to machine due to additional sulfur
    • Type 420—Cutlery Grade martensitic; similar to the Brearley's original rustless steel. Excellent polishability.
    • Type 430—decorative, e.g., for automotive trim; ferritic. Good formability, but with reduced temperature and corrosion resistance.
    • Type 439—ferritic grade, a higher grade version of 409 used for catalytic converter exhaust sections. Increased chromium for improved high temperature corrosion/oxidation resistance.
    • Type 440—a higher grade of cutlery steel, with more carbon, allowing for much better edge retention when properly heat-treated. It can be hardened to above Rockwell 55 hardness,[citation needed] making it one of the hardest stainless steels. Due to its hardness and relatively low cost, most display-only and replica swords or knives are made of 440 stainless. Available in four grades: 440A, 440B, 440C, and the uncommon 440F (free machinable). 440A, having the least amount of carbon in it, is the most stain-resistant; 440C, having the most, is the strongest and is usually considered more desirable in knifemaking than 440A, except for diving or other salt-water applications.
    • Type 446—For elevated temperature service
  • 500 Series—heat-resisting chromium alloys
  • 600 Series—martensitic precipitation hardening alloys
    • 601 through 604: Martensitic low-alloy steels.
    • 610 through 613: Martensitic secondary hardening steels.
    • 614 through 619: Martensitic chromium steels.
    • 630 through 635: Semiaustenitic and martensitic precipitation-hardening stainless steels.
      • Type 630 is most common PH stainless, better known as 17-4; 17% chromium, 4% nickel.
    • 650 through 653: Austenitic steels strengthened by hot/cold work.
    • 660 through 665: Austenitic superalloys; all grades except alloy 661 are strengthened by second-phase precipitation.
  • Type 2205— the most widely used duplex (ferritic/austenitic) stainless steel grade. It has both excellent corrosion resistance and high strength.
Stainless steel designations[14]
SAE designation UNS designation  % Cr  % Ni  % C  % Mn  % Si  % P  % S  % N Other
Austenitic
201 S20100 16–18 3.5–5.5 0.15 5.5–7.5 0.75 0.06 0.03 0.25 -
202 S20200 17–19 4–6 0.15 7.5–10.0 0.75 0.06 0.03 0.25 -
205 S20500 16.5–18 1–1.75 0.12–0.25 14–15.5 0.75 0.06 0.03 0.32–0.40 -
301 S30100 16–18 6–8 0.15 2 0.75 0.045 0.03 - -
302 S30200 17–19 8–10 0.15 2 0.75 0.045 0.03 0.1 -
302B S30215 17–19 8–10 0.15 2 2.0–3.0 0.045 0.03 - -
303 S30300 17–19 8–10 0.15 2 1 0.2 0.15 min - Mo 0.60 (optional)
303Se S30323 17–19 8–10 0.15 2 1 0.2 0.06 - 0.15 Se min
304 S30400 18–20 8–10.50 0.08 2 0.75 0.045 0.03 0.1 -
304L S30403 18–20 8–12 0.03 2 0.75 0.045 0.03 0.1 -
304Cu S30430 17–19 8–10 0.08 2 0.75 0.045 0.03 - 3–4 Cu
304N S30451 18–20 8–10.50 0.08 2 0.75 0.045 0.03 0.10–0.16 -
305 S30500 17–19 10.50–13 0.12 2 0.75 0.045 0.03 - -
308 S30800 19–21 10–12 0.08 2 1 0.045 0.03 - -
309 S30900 22–24 12–15 0.2 2 1 0.045 0.03 - -
309S S30908 22–24 12–15 0.08 2 1 0.045 0.03 - -
310 S31000 24–26 19–22 0.25 2 1.5 0.045 0.03 - -
310S S31008 24–26 19–22 0.08 2 1.5 0.045 0.03 - -
314 S31400 23–26 19–22 0.25 2 1.5–3.0 0.045 0.03 - -
316 S31600 16–18 10–14 0.08 2 0.75 0.045 0.03 0.10 2.0–3.0 Mo
316L S31603 16–18 10–14 0.03 2 0.75 0.045 0.03 0.10 2.0–3.0 Mo
316F S31620 16–18 10–14 0.08 2 1 0.2 0.10 min - 1.75–2.50 Mo
316N S31651 16–18 10–14 0.08 2 0.75 0.045 0.03 0.10–0.16 2.0–3.0 Mo
317 S31700 18–20 11–15 0.08 2 0.75 0.045 0.03 0.10 max 3.0–4.0 Mo
317L S31703 18–20 11–15 0.03 2 0.75 0.045 0.03 0.10 max 3.0–4.0 Mo
321 S32100 17–19 9–12 0.08 2 0.75 0.045 0.03 0.10 max Ti 5(C+N) min, 0.70 max
329 S32900 23–28 2.5–5 0.08 2 0.75 0.04 0.03 - 1–2 Mo
330 N08330 17–20 34–37 0.08 2 0.75–1.50 0.04 0.03 - -
347 S34700 17–19 9–13 0.08 2 0.75 0.045 0.030 - Nb + Ta, 10 x C min, 1 max
348 S34800 17–19 9–13 0.08 2 0.75 0.045 0.030 - Nb + Ta, 10 x C min, 1 max, but 0.10 Ta max; 0.20 Ca
384 S38400 15–17 17–19 0.08 2 1 0.045 0.03 - -
904L 19-23 23-28 0.02 2 1 0.045 0.035 - Mo 4-5, Cu 1-2
Ferritic
405 S40500 11.5–14.5 - 0.08 1 1 0.04 0.03 - 0.1–0.3 Al, 0.60 max
409 S40900 10.5–11.75 0.05 0.08 1 1 0.045 0.03 - Ti 6 x C, but 0.75 max
429 S42900 14–16 0.75 0.12 1 1 0.04 0.03 - -
430 S43000 16–18 0.75 0.12 1 1 0.04 0.03 - -
430F S43020 16–18 - 0.12 1.25 1 0.06 0.15 min - 0.60 Mo (optional)
430FSe S43023 16–18 - 0.12 1.25 1 0.06 0.06 - 0.15 Se min
434 S43400 16–18 - 0.12 1 1 0.04 0.03 - 0.75–1.25 Mo
436 S43600 16–18 - 0.12 1 1 0.04 0.03 - 0.75–1.25 Mo; Nb+Ta 5 x C min, 0.70 max
442 S44200 18–23 - 0.2 1 1 0.04 0.03 - -
446 S44600 23–27 0.25 0.2 1.5 1 0.04 0.03 - -
Martensitic
403 S40300 11.5–13.0 0.60 0.15 1 0.5 0.04 0.03 - -
410 S41000 11.5–13.5 0.75 0.15 1 1 0.04 0.03 - -
414 S41400 11.5–13.5 1.25–2.50 0.15 1 1 0.04 0.03 - -
416 S41600 12–14 - 0.15 1.25 1 0.06 0.15 min - 0.060 Mo (optional)
416Se S41623 12–14 - 0.15 1.25 1 0.06 0.06 - 0.15 Se min
420 S42000 12–14 - 0.15 min 1 1 0.04 0.03 - -
420F S42020 12–14 - 0.15 min 1.25 1 0.06 0.15 min - 0.60 Mo max (optional)
422 S42200 11.0–12.5 0.50–1.0 0.20–0.25 0.5–1.0 0.5 0.025 0.025 - 0.90–1.25 Mo; 0.20–0.30 V; 0.90–1.25 W
431 S41623 15–17 1.25–2.50 0.2 1 1 0.04 0.03 - -
440A S44002 16–18 - 0.60–0.75 1 1 0.04 0.03 - 0.75 Mo
440B S44003 16–18 - 0.75–0.95 1 1 0.04 0.03 - 0.75 Mo
440C S44004 16–18 - 0.95–1.20 1 1 0.04 0.03 - 0.75 Mo
Heat resisting
501 S50100 4–6 - 0.10 min 1 1 0.04 0.03 - 0.40–0.65 Mo
502 S50200 4–6 - 0.1 1 1 0.04 0.03 - 0.40–0.65 Mo
Martensitic precipitation hardening
630 S17400 15-17 3-5 0.07 1 1 0.04 0.03 - Cu 3-5, Ta 0.15-0.45 [15]

Stainless steel finishes

Lavabo in stainless steel with brushed body.
316L stainless steel, with an unpolished, mill finish.
Main article: Brushed metal


Standard mill finishes can be applied to flat rolled stainless steel directly by the rollers and by mechanical abrasives. Steel is first rolled to size and thickness and then annealed to change the properties of the final material. Any oxidation that forms on the surface (scale) is removed by pickling, and a passivation layer is created on the surface. A final finish can then be applied to achieve the desired aesthetic appearance.

  • No. 0: Hot rolled, annealed, thicker plates
  • No. 1: Hot rolled, annealed and passivated
  • No. 2D: Cold rolled, annealed, pickled and passivated
  • No. 2B: Same as above with additional pass-through highly polished rollers
  • No. 2BA: Bright annealed (BA or 2R) same as above then bright annealed under oxygen-free atmospheric conditions
  • No. 3: Coarse abrasive finish applied mechanically
  • No. 4: Brushed finish
  • No. 5: Satin finish
  • No. 6: Matte finish
  • No. 7: Reflective finish
  • No. 8: Mirror finish
  • No. 9: Bead blast finish
  • No. 10: heat colored finish-wide range of electropolished & heat colored surfaces

See also

References

  1. ^ "Steel Glossary". American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). http://www.steel.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Steel_Glossary2&CONTENTID=6426&TEMPLATE=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm. Retrieved October 21 2008. 
  2. ^ "Why is Stainless Steel Stainless?". http://www.stainless-online.com/why-stainless-steel-stainless.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-20. .
  3. ^ a b "A non-rusting steel". New York Times. 31 January 1915. 
  4. ^ "A Proposal to Establish the Shipwreck Half Moon as a State Underwater Archaeological Preserve" (PDF). Bureau of Archaeological Research, Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State. May 2000. http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/archaeology/underwater/preserves/HM_Prop3.pdf. 
  5. ^ "ThyssenKrupp Nirosta: History". http://www.nirosta.de/History.22.0.html?&L=1. Retrieved 2007-08-13. 
  6. ^ Scientific American Inventions and Discoveries, p. 380, Rodney P. Carlisle, John Wiley and Sons, 2004, ISBN 0471244104, ISBN 9780471244103
  7. ^ Sheffield Steel, ISBN 0-7509-2856-5
  8. ^ Ashby, Michael F.; & David R. H. Jones (1992) [1986]. "Chapter 12". Engineering Materials 2 (with corrections ed.). Oxford: Pergamon Press. pp. 119. ISBN 0-08-032532-7. 
  9. ^ "What is Stainless Steel?". Nickel Institute. http://www.nickelinstitute.org/index.cfm/ci_id/11021.htm. Retrieved 2007-08-13. 
  10. ^ General Facts
  11. ^ What is Stainless Steel?
  12. ^ "The Recycling of Stainless Steel ("Recycled Content" and "Input Composition" slides)" (Flash). International Stainless Steel Forum. 2006. http://www.worldstainless.org/ISSF/Files/Recycling08/Flash.html. Retrieved 2006-11-19. 
  13. ^ a b c "Stainless Steel Fasteners". Australian Stainless Steel Development Association. http://www.assda.asn.au/asp/index.asp?pgid=18732. Retrieved 2007-08-13. 
  14. ^ Oberg, E.; et al. (1996). Machinery's Handbook (25th ed.). Industrial Press Inc. pp. 411-412. 
  15. ^ "Precipitation-Hardening Stainless Steel Type 17-4PH (S17400)" (PDF). http://www.upmet.com/media/17-4.pdf. 

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