STAINLESS

STEEL
&

STEEL
ALLOYS
 What is Stainless Steel?
 Stainless steel is the name given to a group of corrosion
resistant and high temperature steels.
 Their remarkable resistance to corrosion is due to a
chromium-rich oxide film which forms on the surface.
 When ordinary carbon steel is exposed to rain water, for
example, it corrodes forming a brown iron oxide, commonly
called rust, on the surface.
 This is not protective and eventually the entire piece of steel
will corrode and be converted to rust.
 But when enough chromium (more than about 10%) is
added to ordinary steel, the oxide on the surface is
transformed - it is very thin, virtually invisible and
protective in a wide range of corrosive media.
In metallurgy stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from
French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5
or 11% chromium content by mass.

Stainless steel does not stain, corrode, or rust as easily as ordinary steel, but
it is not stain-proof. It is also called corrosion-resistant steel or
CRES .

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 contain sufficient chromium to form a passive film of

chromium oxide, which prevents further surface corrosion and blocks
corrosion from spreading into the metal's internal structure.
GRADE CHARACTERISTICS APPLICATIONS
301 Has lower Chromium, Nickel content. It’s tensile Trains, Aircrafts, belt
strength increases with cold drawing. Though it is conveyors, vehicles, bolts,
non-magnetic, it acquires magnetism after cold- spring.
drawing.
303 It has good free cutting property and superior anti- Shaft for electrical appliances,
quenchability. OA products, bolts and nuts.
304 Good corrosion resistance, thermal resistance, low- Hollow and flat ware, sink,
temperature strength and mechanical properties. interior piping, hot-water
machine, bathtub. Boiler,
automobile parts, medical
instruments, building
materials.
304L 304L steel is low carbon 304 steel type which has Machinery and tools used in
similar corrosion resistance with 304 steel in the chemical, coal, and
normal conditions. It possesses corrosion petroleum industry that
resistance properties without undergoing heat require high inter granular
treatment. corrosion resistance, building
material.
305 Has high nickel content. It is non-magnetic and Dinnerware, electric parts, TV
suitable for deep drawing use due to its good cold parts, pen parts.
formability.
GRADE CHARCTERISTICS APPLICATIONS
316L A low carbon 316 steel type. Has all the Products made with 316 steel that
properties of 316 steel and has superior inter require superior inter granular
granular corrosion resistance. corrosion resistance, mesh.

321 With the addition of titanium, it has good Airplane exhaust pipe, boiler
weld ability and draw ability. cover, bellows and hoses.

410 It has high strength but is not suitable for General knife blade, machine
severe corrosion conditions. It has superior parts, petroleum refining
draw ability and becomes hard with heat apparatus, bolts, nuts, pump
treatment and is magnetic. shaft, spoon, fork etc.

420 This ferritic steel contains minimum 0.3% Knife blade, nozzle, valve, stick
carbon and around 12% chromium. Can be ruler, scissors.
heat treated to develop high hardness.

430 Steel type that represents ferritic steel. It has Heat resistant tools, burner,
a low thermal expansion rate and superior household electric appliance
drawing and oxidation resistance. parts, hollow ware, sink cover,
building material, bolts, nuts, CD
bar, mesh.
 Types of Stainless
Steel
Ferritic
Austenitic
Martensitic
Passivation only occurs if the
mixture of chromium is high
enough, or if the manufacturer
performs this last step.
Austenitic:
oAustenitic steels have austenite as their primary phase
(face centered cubic crystal).

oThese are alloys containing chromium and nickel

(sometimes manganese and nitrogen), structured around the
Type 302 composition of iron, 18% chromium, and 8% nickel.

oAustenitic steels are not hardenable by heat treatment.

oThe most familiar stainless steel is probably Type 304,

sometimes called T304 or simply 304.

oType 304 surgical stainless steel is an austenitic steel

containing 18-20% chromium and 8-10% nickel.
Ferritic:
oFerritic steels have ferrite (body centered cubic
crystal) as their main phase.

oThese steels contain iron and chromium, based on the

Type 430 composition of 17% chromium.

o Ferritic steel is less ductile than austenitic steel and

is not hardenable by heat treatment.
Martensitic:
ostainless steels are not as corrosion-
resistant as the other two classes but are
extremely strong and tough, as well as highly
machinable, and can be hardened by heat
treatment.

oMartensitic stainless steel contains

chromium (12–14%), molybdenum (0.2–1%),
nickel (less than 2%), and carbon (about 0.1–1%)
(giving it more hardness but making the
material a bit more brittle). It is quenched
and magnetic.
 Passivation
•There is some dispute over whether the corrosion resistance
of stainless steel can be enhanced by the process of
passivation.

•Essentially, passivation is the removal of free iron from the

surface of the steel.

• This is performed by immersing the steel in an oxidant, such

as nitric acid or citric acid solution.

• Since the top layer of iron is removed, passivation diminishes

surface discoloration. While passivation does not affect
thickness or effectiveness of the passive layer, it is useful in
producing a clean surface for a further treatment, such as
plating or painting.
•On the other hand, if the oxidant is
incompletely removed from the steel, as
sometimes happens in pieces with tight joints
or corners, then crevice corrosion may result.

•Most research indicates that diminishing

surface particle corrosion does not reduce
susceptibility to pitting corrosion.
The Manufacturing Process Of Stainless Steel
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.

To make stainless steel, the raw materials—iron ore,

chromium, silicon, nickel, etc.—are melted together in an
electric furnace. This step usually involves 8 to 12 hours of
intense heat. Next, the mixture is cast into one of several
shapes, including blooms, billets, and slabs.
oThe raw materials are first melted together in an electric
furnace.
oThis step usually requires 8 to 12 hours of intense heat.
oWhen the melting is finished, the molten steel is
cast into semi-finished forms.
oThese include blooms (rectangular shapes), billets
(round or square shapes 1.5 inches or 3.8 centimeters in
thickness), slabs, rods, and tube rounds.
oNext, the semi-finished steel goes through forming
operations, beginning with hot rolling, in which the steel is
heated and passed through huge rolls.
oBlooms and billets are formed into bar and wire, while slabs
are formed into plate, strip, and sheet.
oAfter the stainless steel is formed, most types must go
through an annealing step.
o Annealing is a heat treatment in which the steel is heated
and cooled under controlled conditions to relieve internal
stresses and soften the metal.
oSome steels are heat treated for higher strength.
oHowever, such a heat treatment—also known as age
hardening
oLower aging temperatures produce high strength
with low fracture toughness, while higher-temperature
aging produces a lower strength, tougher material.
oThe type of heat treatment depends on the type of steel;
in other words, whether it is austenitic, ferritic, or
martensitic.
Properties
oHigh oxidation-resistance in air at ambient temperature
is normally achieved with additions of a minimum of 13%
(by weight) chromium, and up to 26% is used for harsh
environments.
oThe chromium forms a passivation layer of
chromium(III) oxide (Cr2O3) when exposed to oxygen.
oThe layer is too thin to be visible, and the metal remains
lustrous.
Applications
oStainless steel’s resistance to corrosion and staining, low
maintenance, relatively low cost, and familiar luster make it
an ideal material for many applications.
 An art deco sculpture on the
Niagara-Mohawk Power building in
Syracuse, New York.

The pinnacle of New York's Chrysler

Building is clad with type 302
stainless steel.
o Storagetanks and tankers used to transport orange juice and
other food are often made of stainless steel, due to its
corrosion resistance and antibacterial properties.

oThis also influences its use in commercial kitchens and food

processing plants, as it can be steam-cleaned, sterilized, and
does not need paint or other surface finishes.

oStainless steel is used for jewellery and watches. 316L is the

stainless steel commonly used for such. It can be re-finished
by any jeweller and will not oxidize or turn black.

oSome automotive manufacturers use stainless steel as

decorative highlights in their vehicles.
Architectural
oStainless steel is used for buildings for both practical and
esthetic reasons.
oStainless steel was in vogue during the art deco period.
oThe most famous example of this is the upper portion of the
Chrysler Building (pictured).
o Some diners and fast-food restaurants use large ornamental
panels, stainless fixtures and furniture.
oOwing to the durability of the material, many of these
buildings retain their original appearance.

The Parliament House of Australia in Canberra

has a stainless steel flagpole weighing over 220
tons .
Recycling and reuse
Stainless steel is 100% recyclable. An average stainless steel
object is composed of about 60% recycled material of which
approximately 40% originates from end-of-life products and
about 60% comes from manufacturing processes. There is
a secondary market that recycles usable scrap for many
stainless steel markets. The product is mostly coil, sheet
and blanks. This material is purchased at a less-than-prime
price and sold to commercial quality stampers and sheet
metal houses. The material may have scratches, pits and dents
but is made to the current specifications.
 End of Life
When a system which uses stainless steel components
reaches the end of its useful life, and if the equipment
cannot be reused, it should always be recycled.
Stainless steel, especially the nickel-containing grades,
has a high scrap value and can be recycled to produce
new stainless steel without any loss of quality. Most
stainless steel today is made using a significant
percentage of scrap stainless steel.