When we talk about the stainless steel, we actually talk about the corrosion resistant steels as it is not a single word or material but the name for a family of corrosion resistant steels i.e. highly resistant to tarnishing and rusting that contain at least two separate elements alloyed together. Just like other scientific discoveries the origins of stainless steel lies in a spontaneous accident. It seems like anyone and everyone has different claims when it comes to the name of inventor of stainless steel. In 1913 Harry Brearley from England was appointed for the development of new steel alloys for use in gun barrels. The samples he manufactured contained around 13% chromium and he noticed that they did not rust and difficult to etch. Cutlery was the first application of these steels for which Sheffield became world famous. With the development of the first austenitic stainless steels, the worldwide demand for stainless steel is increasing at a rate of about 5% per annum. Now the annual consumption is over 20 million tonnes and is constantly rising in areas such as household appliances and construction industries. Made from chromium around 10.5% that makes steel stainless or corrosion resistant, stainless steel are of four major types such as austenitic, ferritic, duplex and martensitic stainless steel categorized as per the amount of chromium it contains. Although stainless steel is more expensive than standard grades of steel but because of its amazing features including greater resistant to corrosion, low maintenance, good strength, attractive appearance, no need for painting and other protective coatings, these are widely used in different applications. These factors make stainless steel more economically viable for once service life. Properties of Stainless Steel The beneficial properties of stainless steel can be seen when compared to standard plain carbon steel. Broad range of properties is there for stainless steel, in general, when compared with standard steel, they have: • Excellent corrosion resistant • Higher ductility • Require lower maintenance • Good strength • A more attractive appearance • Higher hardness Standard Grades of Stainless Steel Stainless steels are available in many different grades. Each contains varying ratios of steel to chromium with varying amount of other elements such as nickel, copper, manganese and molybdenum. Each grade of stainless steel has its own specific and unique chemical, physical and mechanical properties making them all ideal for different applications. Grades of stainless steel are classified according to the old AISI three digits numbering system which is still commonly used. However new grades are defined under the ASTM and SAE system in which a 1- letter plus 5- digits UNS number is used. Started from 201 stainless steel grades ends at 446. In addition some grades are not covered by standard numbering system and could be named using standards for specialist products like welding wire or could be a proprietary grade. The selection process of stainless steel grades is an arrangement between the desired properties of the finished products. Remember, selecting the right grade will ensure the product will have a long trouble free life combined with cost effective installation and fabrication. RMT can provide complete package including welded pipes a modern infrastructure to handle complex project packages in terms of Grades of Stainless Steel handling. We are leading industrial fluid flow control valve, honeywell pneumatic valves, high pressure check valve and Stainless Steel Fasteners.
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