STAINLESS STEEL
WHAT IS STAINLESS STEEL
Stainless steel, also known as inox steel, is a steel alloy containing chromium, known for its excellent corrosion resistance and long lifespan. To be classified as stainless, the steel must contain at least 11% chromium. Chromium forms a protective oxide layer on the surface, which prevents rusting and oxidation.
This passive chromium oxide film is extremely thin but, under the right conditions, it has self-healing properties, further enhancing the material’s resistance to corrosion. Thanks to these qualities, stainless steel is widely used in industry, construction, food processing, and healthcare.
In addition to chromium, stainless steel also contains other alloying elements, such as:
Nickel – improves ductility and formability.
Molybdenum – increases resistance to pitting corrosion.
Nitrogen – contributes to strength and corrosion resistance.
Alloying these elements results in various crystalline structures, which influence machinability, formability, weldability, and other technical properties of stainless steel.
Main Types of Stainless Steel:
Austenitic is the most widely used type of stainless steel and still represents 80% of the world market. It has a nickel content of at least of 7%, which makes the steel structure fully austenitic and gives it ductility, a large scale of service temperature, non-magnetic properties and good weldability. The range of applications of austenitic stainless steel includes housewares, containers, industrial piping and vessels, architectural facades and constructional structures.
Ferritic stainless steel has properties similar to mild steel but with the better corrosion resistance. The most common of these steels are 12% and 17% chromium containing steels, with 12% used mostly in structural applications and 17% in housewares, boilers, washing machines and indoor architecture.
Austenitic-Ferritic (Duplex) stainless steel has a ferritic and austenitic lattice structure – hence common name: Duplex stainless steel. This steel has some nickel content for a partially austenitic lattice structure. The duplex structure delivers both strength and ductility. Duplex steels are mostly used in petrochemical, paper, pulp and shipbuilding industries.
Martensitic stainless steel contains mostly 11 to 13% chromium and is both strong and hard with moderate corrosion resistance. This steel is mostly used in turbine blades and in knives.
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