SUPERIOR IN STEEL PRODUCTION AND MACHINING OPERATIONS
STAINLESS STEEL GRADES
Stainless steel grades have their designated applications, depending on their capacities and featured strength and properties.
Stainless steel grades have their group distinctions including duplex, austenitic, martensitic, ferritic, PH, and special steel grades that are widely used in an extensive line of application. These stainless steel grades are known for their strength and properties that can withstand severe and corrosive environments, elevated temperatures and conditions. That is why stainless steels mostly earn the first choice and demand in customer-specific uses. The table below shows the distinct mechanical differences of stainless steel grades and how they are selected for various applications:
| GRADE | TYPE | MAGNETISM/HARDENNING | DESCRIPTION | APPLICATION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 303 | Austenitic | Cold only / non-magnetic | a good machinable austenitic with its additional sulphur content. less corrosion resistant than 303 and 316 | nuts, bolts, gears, etc. |
| 304 | Austenitic | Cold only / non-magnetic | more suitable for complex forms than 301 | kitchen appliances & sinks, truck trailers, architectural paneling, food processing equipment – milk brewing, wine making, beer brewing |
| 316 | Austenitic | Cold only / non-magnetic | most expensive austenitic, has better corrosion resistance with its additional molybdenum content | pharmaceuticals, food preparation, architectural, marine applications, chemical containers, medical implants |
| 316 / 316L | Austenitic | Cold only / non-magnetic | extra low carbon grade of 316 | marine applications, stainless steel watches, reactor pressure vessels, water reactors |
| 316 / 316L | Austenitic | Cold only / non-magnetic | extra low carbon grade of 316 | marine applications, stainless steel watches, reactor pressure vessels, water reactors |
| 321 | Austenitic | Cold only / non-magnetic | has higher stress and creep rupture properties than 304 | boiler and pressure vessels |
| 347 | Austenitic | Cold only / non-magnetic | has good creep strength and oxidation resistance, but low temperature toughness | food processing, waste heat recovery, chemical processing, petroleum refining, pharmaceutical production |
| 410 | Martensitic | Thermal hardening/ magnetic | low cost, most widely used stainless martensitic steel, softer and more machinable than 416 or 420 | nuts, screws, bolts, car parts, bushings, industrial products |
| 420 | Martensitic | Thermal hardening/ magnetic | high carbon version and harder than 410 | cutlery and knife blades, surgical instruments, medium quality tools |
| 430 | Ferritic | Thermal hardening/ magnetic | decorative, has good formability but reduced corrosion and temperature resistance | automotive trim |
| 440C | Ferritic / Martensitic | Thermal hardening / magnetic | has greater amount of carbon, has the toughest strength in 440 variants | knifemaking |
| 440F | Ferritic / Martensitic | Thermal hardening / agnetic | free machining variant, has high carbon content | areas requiring non-galling, non-seizing, and high hardness values |
| 446 | Ferritic / Martensitic | Elevated Temperature | most oxidation resistant | boiler parts, burners, injector nozzles, thermocouple protectors, flame rods, glass bonding parts |