All about stainless steel Ferritic, martensitic, austenitic... Let's find out more about this material

Chromium is the key element: all stainless steels share a minimum percentage of 10.5% chromium. This element forms an oxide layer that protects underneath steel from oxidation and corrosion. Chromium oxide is:

• PASSIVE: does not react with other materials

• TENACIOUS: clings to the steel

• SELF-RENEWING: if damaged, more chromium will be oxidized

Ferritic stainless steels

• plain chromium stainless steels, low carbon content

• chromium content varying between 10.5 and 18%

• magnetic and not hardenable by heat treatment

• good ductility and formability but poor high temperature strength

• used for machinery, food equipment, petrochemical industry

Martensitic stainless steels

• first stainless steels that were commercially developed (as cutlery)

• relatively high carbon content (0.1 - 1.2%)

• chromium content between 12 and 18%

• magnetic and hardenable by quenching and tempering

• main application in cutlery, aerospace, tools, general engineering.

Supermartensitic stainless steels

• high strength and low-temperature toughness

• acceptable corrosion resistance

Austenitic stainless steels

• 18% chromium and 8% nickel

• nickel changes the crystal structure to "austenite"

• non-magnetic and not hardenable by heat treatment

• enhanced corrosion resistance

• more than 70% of stainless steels production (esp. 304 grade)

• used in automotive, cookware, processing equipment

Superaustenitic stainless steels

• further additions of chromium, molybdenum and nitrogen

• enhanced pitting and crevice corrosion resistance

Duplex stainless steels

• high chromium levels (between 18 and 28%) + nickel (4.5 to 8%)

• this balance (hence the name "duplex") gives high corrosion resistance and excellent mechanical properties

• used for heat exchangers, tubes, pipes, pressure vessels and tanks in the oil and gas and chemical processing industries.

Super duplex stainless steels

• further additions of chromium, molybdenum and nitrogen

• enhanced pitting and crevice corrosion resistance

Other stainless steels Nickel based alloys

• resistant to aqueous corrosion, high temperature strength

• resistance to mechanical damage, fatigue, or creep damage

Titanium based alloys

• fourth most abundant metal, ninth industrial metal

• excellent corrosion and erosion resistance, high heat transfer efficiency, and superior strength-to-weight ratio

• Once judged to be expensive, is now more often seen to be economical in life-cycle costing.

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