Stainless steel is a highly versatile and durable material that finds applications in numerous industries. Some of the target industries that use stainless steel for manufacturing include:
1. Construction: Stainless steel is widely used in the construction industry due to its high strength, corrosion resistance, and aesthetic appeal. It is commonly used for structural applications such as building facades, roofing, and bridges.
2. Food and beverage: Stainless steel is an ideal material for manufacturing food and beverage processing equipment due to its hygienic properties, resistance to corrosion and staining, and ease of cleaning. It is commonly used for manufacturing tanks, piping, and other equipment used in food and beverage production.
3. Medical: Stainless steel is a crucial material in the medical industry, where its biocompatibility and resistance to corrosion make it ideal for medical implants, surgical instruments, and medical equipment.
4. Automotive: Stainless steel is used extensively in the automotive industry for manufacturing exhaust systems, mufflers, and other components that require high heat resistance and durability.
5. Aerospace: Stainless steel is used in the aerospace industry for manufacturing components that require high strength, corrosion resistance, and heat resistance, such as turbine blades, exhaust systems, and structural components.
6. Energy: Stainless steel is used for manufacturing components in the energy industry, including oil and gas exploration and production equipment, power plant components, and renewable energy equipment.
Overall, the versatility, strength, and corrosion resistance of stainless steel make it a popular choice for a wide range of industries and applications.
Stainless Steel is the generic term used for a group of Corrosion Resistant Steels, which contain a minimum of 12 % of Chromium. Stainless Steel may also have varying additions of Nickel, Molybdenum, Titanium, Niobium and other elements. A steel is only stainless if it has a minimum chromium content of 11 -12%. The chromium forms an extremely thin, continuous and stable oxide film on the surface. This film renders the surface inert to chemical reaction and it is therefore passive. This is stainless steel’s natural built – in corrosion resistance.
Type & Grades of Stainless Steel
There are basically three main types of Stainless Steel –
Martensitic: The Martensitic steels are magnetic containing relatively high carbon content & a chromium content of 12-18% Cr. The common specifications are 410, 420 and 431.These types of steel is hardenable by quenching & tempering like plain carbon steel and find their main application in cutlery manufacture, aerospace, knife blades, surgical instruments, fasteners, spindles, nozzles, shafts, springs, and general engineering. Martensitic Stainless Steel is generally available in the form of a bar or strip.
Ferritic: The Ferritic steels are magnetic & have a low carbon content & contain chromium as the main element, typically at the 13% and 17% levels. The common specifications are 430 & 409. The most common uses of this type of steel include builders’ hardware, sinks, domestic equipment and architectural trims. Thick gauge applications include liners, decking plates, spillways, chain conveyors and dust & fumes extractors. This type of stainless steel is available in the form of sheet & coil.
Austenitic : The Austenitic steels are non-magnetic and in addition to chromium, typically at 18%, they contain nickel, which increases their corrosion resistance.The basic composition of the austentic stainless steel is 18% chromium and 8% nickel, termed as 18/8. The common specifications include 304, 304L, 321, 316, 316L, 316Ti and 317L.
It has a very wide scope of applications. Some of these are hollowware, builders’ hardware, architectural applications, abattoir, beer and beverage production and food processing equipment, which require the cleanability and hygienic corrosion resistance properties.
Surface Finish
Stainless steel is available in many surface finishes. It is easily and simply maintained resulting in a high quality, pleasing appearance. With the help of electro chemical process it can be produced in a number of colors including gold, bronze, green, blue and black.
