Stainless steel grade
Stainless steel grade
There are hundreds of grades of stainless steel on the market today. It's important to choose the right one for your application, as their properties can be quite different from each other.
The AISI (American Iron and Steel Institute) stainless steel nomenclature system is still used in the industry. The numbering system uses three digits beginning with 2, 3 or 4.
200 series
This series is used for austenitic steel grades containing manganese. These chrome-manganese steels have a low nickel content (less than 5%).
The 200 series can be used in:
Washing machine
Knives
Food and Beverage Equipment
Automobile industry
Indoor equipment, etc.
300 series
This series is used to designate austenitic stainless steels alloyed with carbon, nickel and molybdenum. Molybdenum is added to improve corrosion resistance in acidic environments, while nickel increases ductility.
AISI 304 and 316 are the most common grades in this family. AISI 304 is also commonly referred to as 18/8 steel because it contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel.
300 series stainless steel applications include:
Food and Beverage Industry
Automobile industry
Structure of key environments
Medical instruments
Jewelry etc.
400 series
Ferritic and martensitic alloys make up this family of stainless steels. These grades can be used for heat treatment. Offers a good combination of strength and high wear resistance. But the corrosion resistance is lower than the 300 series.
Applications for the 400 Series include:
Agricultural equipment
Motor shaft
Gas turbine parts, etc.
