Tag: Stainless Steel Grades

Posted on

7 Considerations When Choosing a Stainless Steel Grade

7 Considerations When Choosing A Stainless Steel Grade

What are the factors to consider when choosing a stainless steel grade?

  1. Common uses of stainless steel
  2. Categories of stainless steel
  3. Resistance to corrosion
  4. Resistance to heat and extreme cold
  5. Strength
  6. Formability
  7. Cost

 

Stainless steel is widely utilized in multiple industries due to its durability, formability, and strength. This makes the steel, which can be found through stainless steel suppliers in the Philippines, perfect for products that need to hold heavy materials such as in automotive and construction. There are around 150 grades of stainless steel available, each one with its own unique property. Read on to learn about the different stainless steel grades as well as factors to consider when choosing the best one for you.

 

Common Uses of Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is mostly used in industries that need a certain type of metal that is highly resistant to corrosion, is flexible, and can hold a large amount of weight.

One such industry is the construction or architecture industry. Stainless steel is used in the creation of high-end buildings for its flexibility and its ability to be resistant to corrosion. The formability of stainless steel allows for new kinds of designs with a shiny finish. It can also save you a lot of money in terms of upkeep because of its low maintenance and corrosion resistant material.

Another industry that utilizes stainless steel is the medical industry. Stainless steel is used for surgical equipment because it is easily sterilized. Its corrosion resistant property is also helpful for the creation of operating tables, dental instruments, and certain medical machines.

 

Stainless Steel Grades

Stainless Steel Grades

You can find these grades being sold by stainless steel and aluminum suppliers in the Philippines.

  • Austenitic

Austenitic is a combination of the metals nickel and chromium. This grade has the highest corrosion resistance. It is also nonmagnetic and cannot be hardened by heat treatment.

  • Ferritic

This stainless steel grade also consists of nickel and chromium but not as much as austenitic grades do. It is combined with titanium and aluminum. This causes this grade to be extremely malleable, with an ability to be shaped into thin sheets. It also is highly resistant to cracking caused by corrosion.

  • Martensitic

Martensitic and ferritic grades are extremely similar. The factor that distinguishes this particular grade apart is its ability to be hardened by heat treatment. This is due to its high levels of carbon and low levels of chromium.

  • Duplex

Duplex, similar to both austenitic and ferritic grades, are made from nickel and chromium. What makes this grade unique is its ability to be corrosion resistant to corrosive water such as those found in oceans. It is also one of the newer kinds of stainless steel.

  • Precipitation-Hardening

Precipitation-Hardening is made of aluminum, titanium, and copper. It can be hardened with a combination of heat treatment and a certain solution. This certain kind of stainless steel is incredibly resistant to breaking under tension.

 

Resistance to Corrosion

The first factor that you need to consider when choosing a kind of steel is where you will be placing it. If the location that you will be using it in is exposed to the effects of the environment, then the austenitic grade is your best bet.

 

Resistance to Heat and Extreme Cold

Resistance To Heat And Extreme Cold

Industries that constantly handle extreme heat, such as welding, need a higher grade of stainless steel specially designed for heat resistance. This is because heat increases the formation of corrosion and also places extreme pressure on metals.

Stainless steel can also survive in the extreme cold, such as freezers. Grades such as austenitic stainless steel can withstand incredibly low temperatures without breaking or cracking. However, handle these products with care as the extreme cold can cause it to slowly degrade in terms of toughness.

Certain stainless steel grades are also resistant to stress corrosion cracking. Choosing one of these grades will ensure that your end product will last even if it is exposed to extreme weight and temperatures.

 

Strength

It is important to know what you will be using your product for, especially if it will need to withstand heavy weights. The strongest grades are duplex, martensitic, and austenitic. However, take note of the environment that it will be exposed to as well, some of the strongest metals start to weaken when exposed to high temperatures.

 

Formability

Formability

Some of the grades come in multiple shapes and sizes, while some do not. Grades such as ferritic and martensitic only come in one or two forms. Austenitic stainless steel is more formable if you need a particularly detailed product.

 

Cost

One of the key factors to consider when looking at stainless steel grades is if it fits within your set budget. Collaborate with stainless steel and aluminum suppliers to be able to figure out what the most viable option for you is.

 

Key Takeaway

The right kind of stainless steel that you’re looking for will depend on where you want to use it. However, if you know that you need a type of steel that is highly resistant to corrosion, incredibly formable, and strong, then you’re looking in the right place. To find the perfect stainless steel grade you’re looking for, click here to learn more with One Sky!

Posted on

A Basic Guide to Stainless Steel

A Basic Guide To Stainless Steel

What are the things that you should know about stainless steel?

  1. What stainless steel is
  2. The common stainless steel grades
  3. The practical uses of stainless steel

 

 

In most cases, stainless steel suppliers in Metro Manila double as aluminum suppliers as well. They offer a wide variety of steel and aluminum products that are ideal for certain applications. And as providers of materials, most of them are also considered experts on what these materials are. With that being said, they should at least have the basic knowledge of what stainless steel is. Every distributor should know a few things about what they’re selling, and for those who are new to selling stainless steel, then here’s a short guide for you!

 

 

What Is Stainless Steel

What is Stainless Steel?

This type of steel is basically an alloy of iron with at least 10.5% chromium. The chromium in its composition creates a thin layer of oxide on the surface of the steel commonly known as the passive layer. This prevents any kind of corrosion on the surface. The more chromium is added to an alloy, the better its resistance to corrosion.

Stainless steel is divided into a number of grades depending on the varying amounts of other metals in its composition. Common metals that are mixed into these alloys are Carbon, Silicon, and Manganese. Sometimes elements such as Nickel and Molybdenum are added to add a few other properties to the alloy—enhancing their formability and further increasing corrosion resistance.

The term stainless comes from the alloys having an incredibly high resistance to corrosion. But when you look at it, you might as well call it a slightly darker and highly stain resistant metal. The reason why it’s bright is that of how it easily reflects light outwards.

 

 

The Most Common Stainless Steel Grades

There are many stainless steel grades that are out in the market. They all have their uses and application in a variety of industries. They find use in places like the aeronautics, maritime, manufacturing, and shipping industry all use different kinds of stainless steel. With that being said, a discussion on stainless steel grades will take a long while—particularly when you consider their properties and whether they can be cold-worked or should strictly be heat treated. There are some steel grades that are manufactured for general use, making them very common among all industries. Listed below are the three of them!

  1. 18-8 SS or the 300 Series. This steel grade is the most suggested stainless steel on the market. The 18-8 comes from its composition—approximately having 18% chromium and 8% Nickel based on their weight. However, you should take note that the term is interchangeable to characterize the series of different stainless steel grades which include 304 and 305. Steel grades in the 300 series are quite small, usually relying on the small addition of carbon and the different percentage of elements used in its creation.
  2. Type 316 grade. The composition of this grade is similar to the makeup of the 305-grade stainless steel. Carbon is limited to around .08% and the amount of Nickel is increased to 14%. What makes 316 different is the addition of 3% Molybdenum for the makeup. This addition further increases the corrosion resistance of the alloy, making it a better fit for areas with high use of industrial chemicals.
  3. 400 Series. This series has 18% Chromium and 0% Nickel. Because of this composition, this group of stainless steel alloys is less corrosion resistant, but make up for it by being magnetic. This series also has a higher carbon content making it stronger, higher strength, and higher wear resistance when compared to the 300 series.

 

 

Practical Uses Of Stainless Steel

Practical Uses of Stainless Steel

The application of stainless steel over different industries all double down on the resistance to corrosion that it has. Because of this property, it can be found in a number of household items, and in heavy industrial sectors all over the world!

Stainless steel suppliers in Metro Manila are known to provide a wide variety of steel products to different manufacturers from different fields. Each of which makes use of the unique properties of the stainless steel to their utmost advantage. That being said, stainless steel is more visible in some field than in others. Here are a few of its most practical uses!

As Culinary Products and Utensils. Stainless steel silverware is a norm in every household. From the dining utensils such as spoons, forks, and butter knives, to ladles, spatulas, tongs and a lot of other cutlery and cookware. You will always find stainless steel in kitchens just because of how sanitary they are.

As Medical Equipment. Particularly for surgical materials and other applications which require equipment that will deal with the human body, the sanitary implications of stainless steel products once again proven its worth in the medical field.

As a Construction Material. Though sometimes outshone by more traditional steel products that have better durability and strength all around, stainless steel is still used in constructions that require materials that are both sturdy and resistant to corrosion. It is very common in constructions of chemical factories or oil or water transport over long distances

 

 

Key Takeaway

Stainless steel products are not made out of one composition alone. They are composed of a handful of stainless steel grades that are unique in their own way. As suppliers of aluminum and stainless steel, you should have an idea on which one is better for certain applications. Keep in mind the basic knowledge about stainless steel provided in this article for when you with stainless steel yourself!