What Is Stainless Steel?

Stainless steel is stainless steel with stainless steel and corrosion resistance as the main characteristics, and the chromium content is at least 10.5%, and the carbon content is not more than 1.2%.

Stainless steel is the abbreviation of stainless acid-resistant steel, resistant to air, steam, water, and other weak corrosive media or stainless steel; The steel that is resistant to chemical corrosive media is called acid-resistant steel. Due to the difference in the chemical composition of the two, their corrosion resistance is different, ordinary stainless steel is generally not resistant to chemical medium corrosion, and acid-resistant steel is generally stainless.

Features

Stainless steel features “corrosion resistance, heat resistance, and hygiene” as its core properties, balancing processing flexibility with environmental friendliness.

Excellent Corrosion Resistance

Chromium forms a dense oxide film, effectively protecting against atmospheric, aqueous, acidic, and alkali corrosion. Some grades (316L containing molybdenum) offer enhanced resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion, making them suitable for harsh environments such as chemical and marine environments.

High Strength and Heat Resistance

Alloying elements (nickel and molybdenum) and heat treatment enhance strength while maintaining ductility. Some grades withstand temperatures up to 1100°C and remain tough at low temperatures (-196°C), making them suitable for use in extreme temperature environments.

Hygienic Safety and Easy Maintenance

The smooth, non-toxic surface of 304 and 316 meets food-grade standards and is widely used in tableware and medical equipment. It is highly stain-resistant, easy to clean, and offers low long-term cost-effectiveness, making it suitable for outdoor use and locations with high hygiene requirements.

Versatile Processability

Can be formed through forging, welding, stamping, and wire drawing processes, supporting complex structural designs. 304 austenitic stainless steel is non-magnetic, making it suitable for electromagnetically sensitive environments.

Long Life

Corrosion resistance significantly extends service life, reducing replacement frequency. 100% recyclable without sacrificing performance.

Production line

Stainless Steel Applications

1. Architecture and Decoration

• Architectural curtain walls, bridge structures, and indoor elevator panels enhance the quality of space with their weather resistance and glossy finish.
• Kitchen countertops and bathroom accessories are water-stain-resistant and easy to clean, complementing modern minimalist home styles.

2. Food and Restaurant Industry

• High-end cookware and commercial sinks are heat-resistant and non-toxic, ensuring hygiene in homes and restaurants.
• Beer fermentation tanks and dairy pipes are corrosion-resistant and meet food-grade production standards.

3. Medical and Pharmaceutical Industry

• Scalpels and artificial joints are biocompatible and meet medical device safety requirements.
• Pharmaceutical reactors and sterile piping are chemical-resistant and ensure drug purity.

4. Chemical and Energy Industry

• Sulfuric acid plant heat exchangers and offshore platform piping ensure stable operation in highly corrosive environments.
• Nuclear power plant cooling systems and wind turbine gearboxes withstand high pressures and temperatures, supporting the development of clean energy.

5. Transportation

• Automobile exhaust pipes and high-speed rail car connectors offer high-temperature and fatigue resistance, extending component life. Ship deck and aircraft fasteners offer both lightweight and seawater corrosion resistance.

6. Daily and Industrial Products

• Outdoor trash cans and bus shelters are pollution-resistant and easy to maintain, reducing public infrastructure costs.
• Industrial molds and springs offer wear resistance, supporting efficient operation of automated equipment.

Classify

1. According to the structure of the steel classification, such as martensitic stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, austenitic stainless steel, and duplex stainless steel.

2. According to the main chemical composition of steel or some characteristic elements in steel to classify, such as chromium stainless steel, chromium-nickel stainless steel, chromium-nickel molybdenum stainless steel, and ultra-low carbon stainless steel, high molybdenum stainless steel, high purity stainless steel.

3. According to the performance characteristics and uses of steel to classify, such as nitric acid (nitric acid grade) stainless steel, sulfuric acid resistant stainless steel, pitting stainless steel, stress corrosion resistant stainless steel, high strength stainless steel, etc.

4. Classified according to the functional characteristics of steel, such as low-temperature stainless steel, non-magnetic stainless steel, free-cutting stainless steel, superplastic stainless steel, and so on.

Common Grades Of Stainless Steel

Chinese Standard	Japanese Standard	American Standard	British Standard	German Standard	French Standard
GB1220-92GB3280-92	JIS	AISIUNS	BS970BS1449	DIN17440 DIN17224	NFA35-575NFA35-576
1Cr13	SUS410	410	410S21	X7Cr13	Z6C13
2Cr13	SUS420J1	420J1	420S29	X20Cr13	Z20C13
0Cr18Ni9	SUS304	304	304S15	X5CrNi189	Z6CN18.09
00Cr19Ni10	SUS304L	304L	304S12	X2CrNi189	Z2CN18.09
0Cr17Ni12Mo2	SUS316	316	316S16	X5CrNiMo1812	Z6CND17.12
00Cr17Ni14Mo2	SUS316L	316L	316S12	X2CrNiMo1812	Z2CND17.12
0Cr18Ni11Ti	SUS321	321		X10CrNiTi189	Z6CNT18.10
0Cr18Ni11Nb	SUS347	347	347S17	X10CrNiNb189	Z6CNNb18.10

For more information, please refer to: Stainless Steel Codes & Grades

What Makes Stainless Steel Stainless?

Stainless steel is added to the chromium element to make stainless steel does not rust, in fact, stainless steel is on the basis of carbon steel added a certain amount of chromium element smelting made. Due to the influence of chromium, under the action of corrosive media, a strong and dense oxide film is generated on the surface of the steel to protect it from rust.

To achieve good corrosion resistance and mechanical properties, stainless steel contains chromium along with nickel, molybdenum, manganese or nitrogen. These alloying elements improve both the protective passive film and the steel’s strength, ductility and workability.

How To Protect Stainless Steel From Rust?

Although stainless steel has good corrosion resistance, it is still possible to rust and corrosion if you do not pay attention. The following are several ways to avoid stainless steel rust and corrosion:

1. Keep the surface clean: The surface of stainless steel is easily affected by dust, grease, moisture, and chemicals in the air, so it should be cleaned regularly, especially in humid, high-temperature, and corrosive gas environments.

2. Avoid mechanical wear: Scratches and wear on the surface of stainless steel may cause the iron in the steel to be exposed, which in turn causes rust and corrosion. Therefore, in the process of use, try to avoid mechanical wear, such as not wiping the stainless steel surface with hard materials.

3. Choose the right environment: Although stainless steel has good corrosion resistance, rust, and corrosion may still occur in some special environments, such as strong acids, strong alkalis, high chloride ions, and other environments. So choose the right environment to use stainless steel materials.

4. Prevent electrochemical corrosion: The electrochemical corrosion of stainless steel is caused by different chemicals and potentials on the surface of the material. To prevent this corrosion, stainless steel with a small potential difference can be used or cathodic protection can be added.

5. Choose the right stainless steel material: Different types of stainless steel have different corrosion resistance, so choose the right stainless steel material according to the specific use environment to ensure that it has good corrosion resistance and service life.

Quality Inspection

Export packaging

Finally Words

Stainless steel with its good corrosion resistance, heat resistance, low-temperature resistance, and other properties is widely used in tableware, household appliances, machinery manufacturing, building decoration, coal, petrochemical, and other fields. Regarding stainless steel products, we mainly produce and sell stainless steel rolls, stainless steel plates, and stainless steel belts.

Wanzhi Steel provides customers with a full range of pre-sales and after-sales services. If you have any questions about stainless steel, please feel free to contact us.