Steel
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AboutSteel
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AboutStainless steel, also known as inox, corrosion-resistant steel (CRES), or rustless
steel, is an iron-based alloy that contains chromium, making it resistant to rust
and corrosion. Stainless steel's resistance to corrosion comes from its chromium
content of 11% or more, which forms a passive film that protects the material and
[1]: 3
can self-heal when exposed to oxygen. It can be further alloyed with elements
like molybdenum, carbon, nickel and nitrogen to enhance specific properties for
various applications.
The alloy's properties, such as luster and resistance to corrosion, are useful in
many applications. Stainless steel can be rolled into sheets, plates, bars, wire,
and tubing. These can be used in cookware, cutlery, surgical instruments, major
appliances, vehicles, construction material in large buildings, industrial
equipment (e.g., in paper mills, chemical plants, water treatment), and storage
tanks and tankers for chemicals and food products. Some grades are also
suitable for forging and casting.
The biological cleanability of stainless steel is superior to both aluminium and
[2]
copper, and comparable to glass. Its cleanability, strength, and corrosion
resistance have prompted the use of stainless steel in pharmaceutical and food
[3]
processing plants.
[4]
Different types of stainless steel are labeled with an AISI three-digit number.
The ISO 15510 standard lists the chemical compositions of stainless steels of the
specifications in existing ISO, ASTM, EN, JIS, and GB standards in a useful
[5]
interchange table.
Properties[edit]
Corrosion resistance[edit]
Although stainless steel does rust, this only affects the outer few layers of atoms,
its chromium content shielding deeper layers from oxidation.
The addition of nitrogen also improves resistance to pitting corrosion and
[6]
increases mechanical strength. Thus, there are numerous grades of stainless
steel with varying chromium and molybdenum contents to suit the environment
[7]
the alloy must endure. Corrosion resistance can be increased further by the
following means:
[6]
● increasing chromium content to more than 11%
[6]
● adding nickel to at least 8%
● adding molybdenum (which also improves resistance to pitting
[6]
corrosion)
Strength[edit]
The most common type of stainless steel, 304, has a tensile yield strength around
210 MPa (30,000 psi) in the annealed condition. It can be strengthened by cold
working to a strength of 1,050 MPa (153,000 psi) in the full-hard condition.
The strongest commonly available stainless steels are precipitation hardening
alloys such as 17-4 PH and Custom 465. These can be heat treated to have tensile
[8]
yield strengths up to 1,730 MPa (251,000 psi).
Melting point[edit]
The melting point of stainless steel ranges from 1,325 to 1,530 °C (2,417 to 2,786
°F), depending on the alloy, which is near that of ordinary steel, and much higher
[9][10]
than aluminium or copper.
Conductivity[edit]
Like steel, stainless steels are relatively poor conductors of electricity, with
significantly lower electrical conductivities than copper. In particular, the
electrical contact resistance (ECR) of stainless steel arises as a result of the
dense protective oxide layer and limits its functionality in applications as
[11]
electrical connectors. Copper alloys and nickel-coated connectors tend to
exhibit lower ECR values and are preferred materials for such applications.
Nevertheless, stainless steel connectors are employed in situations where ECR
poses a lower design criteria and corrosion resistance is required, for example in
[12]
high temperatures and oxidizing environments.
