Stainless Steel

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In metallurgy, stainless steel is defined as an iron-carbon alloy with a minimum of 10.5% chromium content.[1] The name originates from the fact that stainless steel does not stain, corrode or rust as easily as ordinary steel. This material is also called corrosion resistant steel when it is not detailed exactly to its alloy type and grade, particularly in the aviation industry. As such, there are now different and easily accessible 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 everyday cutlery and watch straps.

Stainless steels have higher resistance to oxidation (rust) and corrosion in many natural and man made environments; however, it is important to select the correct type and grade of stainless steel for the particular application.

High 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.[2] The chromium forms a passivation layer of chromium(III) oxide (Cr2O3) when exposed to oxygen. The layer is too thin to be visible, which means that the metal remains lustrous. It is, however, 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. 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.

Nickel also contributes to passivation, as do other less commonly used ingredients such as molybdenum and vanadium.

[edit] 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 higher hardness and strength, 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 steels are also classified by their crystalline structure:

• Austenitic, or 300 series, stainless steels comprise 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 is 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 contents (>6%) and nitrogen additions and the higher nickel content ensures better resistance to stress-corrosion cracking over 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.Template:Fact

• 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. Most compositions include molybdenum; some, aluminium or titanium. Common ferritic grades include 18Cr-2Mo, 26Cr-1Mo, 29Cr-4Mo, and 29Cr-4Mo-2Ni.

• 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%), zero to less than 2% nickel, and about 0.1–1% carbon (giving it more hardness but making the material a bit more brittle). It is quenched and magnetic. It is also known as "series-00" steel.

• 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 defence budgets to opt for an ultra-high-strength stainless steel if possible in new projects as it is estimated that 2% of the U.S. GDP is spent dealing with corrosion. The Lockheed-Martin JSF 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 steel 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.

[edit] Comparison of standardized steels

EN-standard Steel no. DIN	EN-standard Steel name	ASTM/AISI Steel type	UNS
		440A	S44002
1.4112		440B	S44004
1.4125		440C	S44003
		440F	S44020
1.4016	X6Cr17	430	S43000
1.4512	X6CrTi12	409	S40900
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
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 [list is not exhaustive]

• 200 Series—austenitic chromium-nickel-manganese alloys
• 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—easier machining version of 304 via addition of sulfur and phosphorus. Also referred to as "A1" in accordance with International Organization for Standardization ISO 3506.<ref name="assda-Stainless_Steel_Fasteners">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Type 304—the most common grade; the classic 18/8 stainless steel. Also referred to as "A2" in accordance with International Organization for Standardization ISO 3506.<ref name="assda-Stainless_Steel_Fasteners"/>
  • Type 309— better temperature resistance than 304
  • 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. 316 steel is used in the manufacture and handling of food and pharmaceutical products where it is often required in order to minimize metallic contamination. It is also known as "marine grade" stainless steel due to its increased resistance to chloride corrosion compared to type 304. SS316 is often used for building nuclear reprocessing plants. Most watches that are made of stainless steel are made of Type 316L; Rolex is an exception in that they use Type 904L. Also referred to as "A4" in accordance with International Organization for Standardization ISO 3506.<ref name="assda-Stainless_Steel_Fasteners"/>
  • 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 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". Also known as "surgical steel". Excellent polishability.
  • Type 430—decorative, e.g., for automotive trim; ferritic. Good formability, but with reduced temperature and corrosion resistance.
  • Type 440—a higher grade of cutlery steel, with more carbon in it, which allows for much better edge retention when the steel is heat treated properly. It can be hardened to around Rockwell 58 hardness, making it one of the hardest stainless steels. Due to its toughness and relatively low cost, most display-only and replica swords or knives are made of 440 stainless. Also known as "razor blade steel". 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-resitant; 440C, having the most, is the strongest and is usually considered a more desirable choice in knifemaking than 440A except for diving or other salt-water applications.
• 500 Series—heat resisting chromium alloys
• 600 Series—martensitic precipitation hardening alloys
  • Type 630—most common PH stainless, better known as 17-4; 17% chromium, 4% nickel