We have compiled a list of FAQs on Stainless Steel
1. What is Stainless Steel used for?
Stainless Steel is used in a wide variety of industries;
- Domestic – Kitchens eg. easy to clean and doesn’t absorb moisture
- Architectural/Civil Engineering – used for aesthetical and functional purposes for locations prone to corrosion because of the steel’s resistance.
- Transportation – cars, buses, trucks, rail and aircraft
- Chemical/Pharmaceutical – production, corrosion can be known to affect the purity and safety of pharmaceutical products
- Oil and Gas – steel pipelines
- Medical – surgical instruments and implants
- Food and Drink – manufacturing and storage
- Water Systems – sewage treatment and tanks
2. How many types of Stainless Steel are there?
Stainless steel is usually divided into 5 types:
- Ferritic steels – high chromium and a magnetic stainless steel that have a low carbon content. Used most commonly in kitchen ware and industrial equipment.
- Austenitic steels – low chromium, up to 35 percent nickel and have the highest corrosion resistance. Most widely used grade of stainless steel.
- Martensitic steels – hard form of steel crystalline structure. Used for valves and pumps.
- Duplex – durable and a higher strength compared to other stainless steels. Used in tanks and swimming pool structures.
- Precipitation hardening (PH) – the ideal material for high end applications such as aerospace and petrochemical. Uses include aerospace components, flat springs, and retaining rings.
3. What is considered a corrosive environment?
There are many environments that are deemed as corrosive. Some of the following are considered to corrode stainless steel, some greater than others; water, chloride water, atmosphere, acid and a presence of concentrated chemicals.
4. What surfaces are available?
*Information in above table taken from BSSA Website.