Stainless Steel

Stainless steel has been alloyed to greatly increase the corrosion resistance over that of carbon/alloy steel. Common alloying ingredients include chromium (usually at least 11%), nickel, or molybdenum. Alloy content often is on the order of 15-30%.Example applications include food handling/processing, medical instruments, hardware, appliances, and structural/architectural uses

Stainless Steel

Stainless steels are in general grouped into

  • martensitic stainless steels
  • ferritic stainless steels
  • austenitic stainless steels
  • duplex (ferritic-austenitic) stainless steels
  • precipitation-hardening stainless steels

Alloying metallic elements added during the making of the steel increase corrosion resistance, hardness, or strength. The metals used most commonly as alloying elements in stainless steel include chromium, nickel, and molybdenum.

Stainless steels are available :-

  • plate
  • sheet
  • strip
  • foil
  • bar
  • wire
  • pipes
  • tubes

Stainless steels are a iron-based alloy containing at between 10.5% to 30% Cr. Stainless steel achieve its stainless characteristic through the formation of an invisible and adherent chromium-rich oxide surface film.

Other alloying elements added to improve the characteristics of the stainless steel include nickel, molybdenum, copper, titanium, aluminum, silicon, niobium, nitrogen, sulphur, and selenium.

Carbon is normally in amounts from 0.03% to more than 1.0% in some martensitic grades.

Selection of stainless steels are in general based on

  • corrosion resistance
  • fabrication characteristics
  • availability
  • mechanical properties for specific temperature ranges
  • product cost

Since stainless steel resists corrosion, maintains its strength at high temperatures, and is easily maintained, it is widely used in items such as automotive and food processing products, as well as medical and health equipment. The most common US grades of stainless steel are:

Type 304

The most commonly specified austenitic (chromium-nickel stainless class) stainless steel, accounting for more than half of the stainless steel produced in the world. This grade withstands ordinary corrosion in architecture, is durable in typical food processing environments, and resists most chemicals. Type 304 is available in virtually all product forms and finishes.

Type 316

Austenitic (chromium-nickel stainless class) stainless steel containing 2%-3% molybdenum (whereas 304 has none). The inclusion of molybdenum gives 316 greater resistance to various forms of deterioration.

Type 409

Ferritic (plain chromium stainless category) stainless steel suitable for high temperatures. This grade has the lowest chromium content of all stainless steels and thus is the least expensive.

Type 410

The most widely used martensitic (plain chromium stainless class with exceptional strength) stainless steel, featuring the high level of strength conferred by the martensitics. It is a low-cost, heat-treatable grade suitable for non-severe corrosion applications.

Type 430

The most widely used ferritic (plain chromium stainless category) stainless steel, offering general-purpose corrosion resistance, often in decorative applications.

Austenitic Stainless Steel

TYPE Equivalent UNS
201 S20100
202 S20200
205 S20500
301 S30100
302 S30200
302B S30215
303 S30300
303Se S30323
304 S30400
304L S30403
302HQ S30430
304N S30451
305 S30500
308 S30800
309 S30900
309S S30908
310 S31000
310S S31008
314 S31400
316 S31600
316L S31603
316F S31620
316N S31651
317 S31700
317L S31703
317LMN S31726
321 S32100
330 NO8330
347 S34700
348 S34800
384 S38400

Ferritic Stainless Steels

TYPE Equivalent UNS
405 S40500
409 S40900
429 S42900
430 S43000
430F S43020
430FSe S43023
434 S43400
436 S43600
442 S44200
446 S44600

Martensitic Stainless Steels

TYPE Equivalent UNS
403 S40300
410 S41000
414 S41400
416 S41600
416Se S41623
420 S42000
420F S42020
422 S42200
431 S43100
440A S44002
440B S44003
440C S44004

Stainless Steel Physical Properties

These tables are intended for estimating purposes only and lists typical physical properties for a variety of 300 and 400 series stainless steel grades.
Stock Grade

300 Series Austinetic Physical Properties

Type UNS Tensile
(ksi) min		 Yield
(ksi) min		 Elongation
min		 Hardness
(Brinell) max		 Hardness
(Rockwell B) max
302 S30200 75 30 40% in 2″ 183 88
304* S30400 75 30 40% in 2″ 183 88
304L* S30403 70 30 40% in 2″ 183 88
309 S30900 75 30 40% in 2″ 217 95
309S S30908 75 30 40% in 2″ 217 95
310 S31000 75 30 40% in 2″ 217 95
310S S31008 75 30 40% in 2″ 217 95
316* S31600 75 30 40% in 2″ 217 95
316L* S31603 70 25 35% in 2″ 217 95
317 S31700 75 30 35% in 2″ 217 95
317L S31703 75 30 35% in 2″ 217 95
321 S32100 75 30 40% in 2″ 183 88
347 S34700 75 30 40% in 2″ 183 88

400 Series Martensitic Physical Properties

Type UNS Tensile
(ksi) min		 Yield
(ksi) min		 Elongation
min		 Hardness
(Brinell) max		 Hardness
(Rockwell B) max
410* S41000 65 30 20% in 2″ 217 95
410S S41008 60 30 22% in 2″ 183 88
416 S41600 75 40 30-25% in 2″  – 82
420 S42000 95 60 30-25% in 2″  – 92
430 S43000 65 30 22% in 2″ 183 88
440C S44004  – – – –  –

2205+2 Series Austinetic Physical Properties

Type UNS Tensile
(ksi) min		 Yield
(ksi) min		 Elongation
min		 Hardness
(Brinell) max		 Hardness
(Rockwell B) max
2205+2* S322505/S31803 95 65 25% – 293

Stainless Steel Chemical Properties

These tables are intended for estimating purposes only and lists typical chemical properties for a variety of 300 and 400 series stainless steel grades. All values shown indicate the maximum percentage unless otherwise noted.
Stock Grade

300 Series Austinetic Chemical Properties

Type C Mn P S Si Cr Ni Mb
302 0.15 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 17.00/19.00 8.00/10.00 –
304* 0.08 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 18.00/20.00 8.00/10.50 –
304L* 0.03 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 18.00/20.00 8.00/12.00 –
309 0.20 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 22.00/24.00 12.00/15.00 –
309S 0.08 2.00 0.045 – 1.00 22.00/24.00 – –
310 0.25 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.5 24.00/26.00 19.00/22.00 –
310S 0.08 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.5 24.00/26.00 19.00/22.00 –
316* 0.08 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 16.00/18.00 10.00/14.00 2.00/3.00
316L* 0.03 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 16.00/18.00 10.00/14.00 2.00/3.00
317 0.08 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00/1.00 18.00/20.00 11.00/15.00 3.00/4.00
317L 0.03 2.00 0.045 0.030 0.75 18.00/20.00 11.00/15.00 3.00/4.00
321 0.08 2.00 0.040 0.030 1.00 17.00/19.00 9.00/12.00 0.75/0.75
347 0.08 2.00 0.040 0.030 0.5/1.00 17.00/19.00 9.00/12.00 0.5/0.75

400 Series Martensitic Chemical Properties

Type C Mn P S N Si Cr Ni Mb
410* 0.15 1.00 0.040 0.030 – 1.00 11.5 / 13.5 – –
410S 0.08 0.30/0.65 0.030 0.010 0.060 0.15/0.50 12.00 / 12.60 0.20/0.55 0.20/0.55
416 0.15 1.25 0.060 0.15 min – 1.00 12.00 / 14.00 – –
420 0.15 min 1.00 0.040 0.030 – 1.00 12.00 / 14.00 – –
430 0.15 1.00 0.040 0.030 – 1.00 16.00 / 18.00 – –
440C 0.95/1.20 1.00 0.040 0.030 – 1.00 16.00 / 18.00 – 0.75

2205+2 Series Martensitic Chemical Properties

Type C Mn P S N Si Cr Ni Mb
2205+2* .030 max 2.00 max .035 max .020 max .08-.20 1.00 max 22.0-23.0 4.5-6.5 2.5-3.53

 

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