What do stainless steels do?

Stainless steels with iron-carbon base alloys, to which other elements are added, such as chromium, nickel, molybdenum, manganese, silicon and titanium, among others, which give them good resistance to some types of corrosion in certain industrial applications. .

According to the EN 10088 standard, stainless steels are defined as those ferrous alloys that contain chromium in a minimum proportion of 10.5%.

What makes stainless steels so special?

The characteristic of good corrosion resistance is due to the ability of these alloys to form a layer of chromium oxide (Cr2O3) on the surface, which is responsible for protecting the steel in an oxidizing environment.

Now, we can find different types of stainless steel, for example Inox. 303, this stainless steel of the austenitic type and not hardenable by conventional quenching. It could be considered a variant of AISI 302 stainless steel, but with high sulfur and phosphorus contents, which favor its machinability, hence it belongs to the family of steels called “Free Machining Stainless Steel”.

It is used for high productions for machining mechanical parts or components (screws, bushings, couplings, connections, etc.) and that will be exposed to corrosive or oxidizing environments, it can replace AISI 304, considering that its resistance to oxidation and corrosion is slightly smaller.

It can be replaced by AISI 304 considering a strong decrease in its machining capacity, on the other hand, AISI 304.

Stainless steel of the austenitic type and not hardenable by conventional quenching, is distinguished by:

· Very good resistance to oxidation and corrosion.

· It is not magnetic in the annealed condition, although it can reach a certain degree when subjected to forming processes such as machining or cold deformation (strain hardening).

· Good forgeability and weldability characteristics; less sensitive to intense carbide precipitation during this process, but it must be taken into account that the cooling rate is rapid once this operation is completed.

· Lower thermal conductivity than carbon, low alloy or tool grade steels, approximately 50%.

While AISI 316L stainless steel is intended for the manufacture of components in the chemical, food, pharmaceutical, medical, oil & gas, aeronautical industries and all those components that require maximum corrosion resistance, mechanical components that require welding processes and exposed to mechanical stress.

It can be replaced by AISI 304, considering a decrease in corrosion resistance and greater sensitivity to intergranular corrosion.

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