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 airhardening 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. a. The Basic Austenitic Grades: T302 T303 T304 T304L T310S T316 T316L T321 T347 b. Typical composition: 18% chromium, 8% nickel, 0.15% carbon. Remainder: Fe (S. & P. kept below 0.045%), Ti or Nb.