Stainless steel

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Stainless steel is a corrosion-resistant steel that contains a minimum of 13% chromium. The corrosion resisting characteristics are caused by the formation of a thin layer of chrome oxide which adheres very strongly to the surface of the material. A range of stainless steels with different compositions and metallurgical structures are produced to deliver different mechanical properties.^[1]

Types

There are three major types of stainless steel:

Austenitic

Austenitic stainless steels are composed of 16-26% chromium, 6-22% nickel, and small amounts of carbon. These stainless steels have non-magnetic properties and are fairly resitant to corrosion. This is the most commonly used type of stainless steel, accounting for approximately 70% of all stainless steel production.

Martensitic

Martenisitic stainless steels are composed of 10.5-17% chromium and are hardenable by quenching or tempering. Martenisitic stainless steel is commonly used in knives because it is strong and hard. However, it is relatively brittle and can be difficult to weld.

Ferritic

Ferritic stainless steels are composed of 17-27% chromium and have a low carbon content and magnetic properties. This is the second most common type of stainless steel, making up about 25% of all production.^[2]