Stainless steel

Properties of Stainless Steel

• Stainless steel is an alloy of iron that is resistant to rusting and corrosion.
• It contains at least 10.5% chromium and usually nickel, as well as 0.2 to 2.11% carbon.
• Stainless steel can be rolled into sheets, plates, bars, wire, and tubing.
• It is used in various applications such as cookware, cutlery, surgical instruments, and major appliances.
• Stainless steel is also used in industrial equipment and storage tanks for chemicals and food products.

Corrosion Resistance of Stainless Steel

• Stainless steel rusts only on the outer few layers of atoms, while deeper layers are shielded from oxidation by its chromium content.
• Nitrogen can be added to improve resistance to pitting corrosion and increase mechanical strength.
• Different grades of stainless steel with varying chromium and molybdenum contents are available for different environments.
• Corrosion resistance can be further increased by increasing chromium content, adding nickel, and adding molybdenum.
• Stainless steel's resistance to corrosion makes it suitable for use in pharmaceutical and food processing plants.

Strength of Stainless Steel

• The common type of stainless steel, 304, has a tensile yield strength of around 30,000psi in the annealed condition.
• Cold working can increase its strength to 153,000psi in the full-hard condition.
• Precipitation hardening alloys like 17-4 PH and Custom 465 have the highest tensile yield strengths, up to 251,000psi.
• Different grades of stainless steel offer varying levels of strength to suit different applications.
• Stainless steel's strength makes it suitable for use in various industries, including construction and automotive.

Melting Point of Stainless Steel

• Stainless steel has a melting point near that of ordinary steel, higher than the melting points of aluminum or copper.
• The melting point of stainless steel is expressed as a range of temperatures, depending on the specific alloy.
• The temperature range for stainless steel melting point is 1,400 to 1,530°C.
• The melting point of stainless steel depends on its chemical composition.
• Stainless steel's high melting point makes it suitable for high-temperature applications.

Conductivity of Stainless Steel

• Stainless steel has lower electrical conductivity compared to copper.
• The non-electrical contact resistance (ECR) of stainless steel is higher due to its protective oxide layer.
• Copper alloys and nickel-coated connectors are preferred for electrical connectors due to their lower ECR values.
• Stainless steel connectors are used in high-temperature and oxidizing environments where corrosion resistance is required.
• Stainless steel's conductivity limits its functionality in certain electrical applications.

Stainless steel Data Sources