What is Stainless Steel?

Stainless steel is the generic name for a number of different steels used primarily for their resistance to corrosion. Stainless steels are produced by adding at least 11% chromium to steel to produce a thin passive protective layer of Cr2Q3, which promotes corrosion resistance. This is improved by further increasing the chromium content.

What are the Types of Stainless Steel?

Four basic groups of stainless steel are available:

  1. Ferritic Stainless Steels: – This group contains between 16 and 30 per cent chromium, with a maximum of 0.1 per cent carbon. These materials can be welded with a preheat of 150°C and the use of the 25 per cent chromium and 20 per cent nickel core wire electrode. Sometimes combination welds are made, with the final layers being completed with electrodes of even higher chromium content (up to 30 per cent), in order to give the surface an extremely high resistance to corrosion. A post heat at 730°C should be performed immediately after welding to prevent brittleness.
  2. Martensitic Stainless Steels: – Martensitic grades contain similar amounts of chromium, but more carbon than ferritics and possibly other additions such as molybdenum to increase hardenability and strength. Can be heat treated. This group contains from 11.5 to 14 per cent chromium and from 0.2 to 0.4 per cent carbon. Such steels are difficult to weld because they can form the very hard martensitic structure regardless of the cooling rate. They are known as air-hardening steels. They can be welded by preheating to around 350°C and using a 25 per cent chromium and 20 per cent nickel flux coated electrode. A post-heat of 750°C usually ensures acceptable ductility.
  3. Austenitic Stainless Steels: – Austenitic grades contain between 17-25% Cr, 7-20% nickel and in some instances molybdenum. They are face-centred cubic in structure, nonmagnetic and can be formed and welded more easily than ferritics. Austenite (gamma) phase field is extended to room temperature. Most corrosion resistant.
  • Typical composition: 18% chromium, 8% nickel, 0.15% carbon. Remainder: Fe (S. & P. kept below 0.045%), Ti or Nb.
  • Effect of elements on properties: The nickel is added to give toughness and may be increased to 11.5% to prevent work hardening (for rivets and fastenings). The chromium is added to give corrosion resistance. In addition titanium or niobium is often added to prevent inter-granular corrosion (weld decay) in the following proportions: Ti – 5 x C content, Nb = 10 x C content.
Approximate melting temperature1420°C to 1395°C
Hardness170 Hv (water quench from 1000°C)
Tensile strengthApprox. 620 N/mm²
Yield pointApprox. 280 N/mm²
Mass7.92 g/cm³ at +20°C
Coefficient of linear expansion0.02           °C
  • How to identify: This iron-based alloy has a characteristic silver lustre imparted to it by the amount of chromium and nickel. It is the chromium which combines with oxygen and rapidly forms a very thin oxide which is continuous and stable and impervious to further attack by the atmosphere. The thickness of this oxide film increases with the degree of polish to give a mirror finish. These steels give a dull red spark when touched on a grinding wheel.
  • Corrosion: The corrosion resistance is excellent in most environments but solutions of nitric, hydrofluoric and sulphuric acid will attack 18/8 stainless steel. These acid solutions are used to remove the oxide scale which result from strongly heating the material in air. The term used for this treatment is pickling.
  • Types of Corrosion:
  1. Inter Crystalline Corrosion (Weld Decay)
  2. Pitting Corrosion
  3. Stress Corrosion
  1. Duplex Stainless Steels: – Duplex stainless steels were developed to provide the strength of ferritics, but with improved corrosion resistance. They contain about 22% Cr, 5% Ni, and possibly molybdenum. Ferrite + Austenite
  2. Precipitation-Hardening (PH) Stainless Steels: – Ultra high strength due to precipitation hardening.

Applications of Stainless Steel

Stainless steels are used extensively in food and drink production and the chemical and energy industries; martensitics are used for cutlery and other cutting tool manufacture.

Applications of Stainless Steel

Properties of Stainless Steel

  • Aesthetic qualities: it can be polished to a satin or mirror finish;
  • “Dry corrosion” occurs to steel at higher temperatures where it oxidises or scales up. Stainless steel is far more resistant to this than ordinary carbon steel and grades such as 310 (25% chromium 20% nickel) were specifically developed for use at high temperatures;
  • Non-contamination of the liquids stainless comes into contact with, because there is no coating to break down and dissolve;
  • Weight savings; as thinner sections and more innovative design structures can be used, with cost savings on foundations and platform weights;
  • Many anti-corrosion coatings are fire hazards or the materials themselves have a low melting point.

Advantages of Stainless Steel

  • Does not react or influence other materials.
  • Used extensively in the food/catering divisions.
  • Used widely in the medical world. E.g. Plates and screws to repair bones.
  • Aesthetic Qualities: It can be polished to a satin or mirror finish.
  • Dry Corrosion: Stainless steel is far more resistant to this than ordinary carbon steel.
  • Grades such as 310 (25% chromium 20% nickel) were specifically developed for use at high temperatures.
  • Non-contamination: Because there is no coating to break down and dissolve there is no contamination of liquids that stainless steel comes in contact with.
  • Weight: As thinner sections and more innovative design structures can be used, giving cost savings on foundations and platform weights.

What are the Various Grades of Stainless Steel?

Austenitic Stainless Steels
301High strength for roll formed structural components
304, 304L, 304HStandard 18/8 grades
310, 310S, 310HHigh temperature resistant grades
316, 316L, 316HImproved resistance to pitting corrosion in chloride environments
321, 321H, 347Stabilized grades for heavy section welding and high temperature applications
904LHigh resistance to general corrosion, pitting and stress corrosion cracking
Ferritic Stainless Steels
409Automotive exhaust grade – weld stabilized
430, 430FResistant to mildly corrosive environments
439Resistant to mildly corrosive environments – weld stabilized
444A ferritic alternative to grade 316 / 316L – weld stabilized
Duplex Stainless Steels
2101Lean duplex – economical alternative to 304 and 316
2304Duplex alternative to grade 316
2205Standard duplex stainless steel – high resistance to pitting and stress corrosion
2507Super duplex with very high resistance to pitting and stress corrosion
Martensitic Stainless Steels
410Standard martensitic grade for low-duty hardened applications
416Free-machining bar grade
420Higher hardness martensitic grade for cutlery, cutting tools and dies
431High hardness and toughness grade, primarily for shafting
440A, 440B, 440CVery high hardness grades used in cutting tools
Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steel
630(17-4PH) High strength shafting grade

What are the Maximum Operating Temperatures of Stainless Steel Grades?

Stainless steels have good strength and good resistance to corrosion and oxidation at elevated temperatures. Stainless steels are used at temperatures up to 1700° F for 304 and 316 and up to 2000 F for the high temperature stainless grade 309(S) and up to 2100° F for 310(S).

Maximum Operating Temperatures of Stainless Steel Grades

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Influence of Alloying Elements on the Properties of Stainless Steel

ElementEffect on Stainless Steel
ChromiumForms a passive film with oxygen that prevent the further diffusion of oxygen into the surface
Composition needs to contain at least 10.5% to be a stainless steel
NickelIncreases ductility and toughness. Increase corrosion resistance to acids
Additon creates non-magnetic structure
MolybdenumIncreases pitting and crevice corrosin resistance. Increase resistance to chlorides
CopperIncrease corrosion resistance to sulfuric acid
ManganeseSubstitute for nickel (200 series)
Titanium/NiobiumTies up carbon and prevents inter-granular corrosion in welded zone of ferritic grades
NitrogenIncrease strength and corrosion resistance in austenitic and duplex grades
SiliconImproves resistance to high temperature scaling
SulfurUsually kept low excet for “free-machining” grades
CarbonUsually kept low.  Used in martensitic grades to increase strength and hardness

Comparative International Grades of Stainless Steel

BritishFrenchGermanItalianJapaneseSwedishUSA
304S21Z12CN17.081.431X12CrNi 17 07SUS30114 23 31301
304S31SUS30214 23 32302
304S15304S16Z8CN18.091.4301X5CrNi 18 10SUS30114 23 33304
304S11Z2CN18.101.4306X2CrNi 18 11SUS304L14 23 52304L
305S19Z8CN18.12X8CrNi 18 12SUS305305
309S24Z15CN24.13X16CrNi 23 14SUS309309
310S24Z12CN25.201.4845Z22CrNi 25 20SUS310S14 23 61310
315S1614 23 40
316S31316S33Z6CND17.111.44011.4436X8CrNiMo 17 13SUS31614 23 4314 23 47316
316S11316S13Z2CND17.121.44041.4435X2CrNiMo 17 12SUS316L14 23 5314 23 48316L
317S12Z2CND19.151.4435X2CrNiMo 18 16SUS317L14 23 67317L
317S161.4436SUS31714 23 66317
320S31320S33Z8CND17.121.45711.457314 23 50
321S31Z6CNT18.121.4541X6CrNiTi 18 11SUS32114 23 37321
347S31Z6CNNb18.111.4558X6CrNiNb 18 11X8CrNiNb 18 11SUS34714 23 38347
403S17Z6C131.4X6Cr13SUS40314 23 01403
405S17Z6CA131.4002Z6CrA1 13SUS405405
409S191.4512409
430S17Z8C171.4016X8Cr 17SUS43014 23 20430
434S17Z8CD17.011.4113X8CrMo 17SUS43414 23 25434
410S21Z12C131.40061.4024X12Cr 13SUS41013 23 02410
410S45Z30C13