Stainless Steel

Reliable in Every Situation
Stainless Steel, the Steel for Special Requirements

Stainless steel (according to DIN EN 10020) is a term for alloyed or unalloyed steels with a special degree of purity, for example steels whose sulphur and phosphorus content (so-called iron companions) does not exceed 0.025 %. Frequently, further heat treatments (e.g. quenching and tempering) are provided after this. High-grade steel does not therefore necessarily have to meet the requirements of a stainless steel. In everyday life, only stainless steels are often referred to as high-grade steels. However, a stainless steel does not necessarily have to be a high-grade steel as well. The decisive factor is the proportion of alloying elements. It defines the different types of high-grade steel (low-alloyed or high-alloyed) in detail. A distinction is made between austenitic, ferritic and martensitic stainless steel.

Austenitic steel is a steel containing more than 8% nickel

Examples:

1.4301 (X5CrNi18-10), AISI 304 (V2A) with 17.5…19.5 chrome and nickel 8.0…10.5%.

1.4571 (X6CrNiMoTi17-12-2) AISI 316Ti (V4A) with Chrome 16.5…18.5, nickel 10.5…13.5, molybdenum 2.0…2.5

Ferritic steel is known as direct chromium stainless steel because its chromium content is between 10.5% and 30%.

Example:

1.4003 (X2CrNi12) with 10,5 …12,5 % chromium and a nickel addition.

Martensitic steel has a medium-high carbon content (0.1-1.2%) and a high chromium content (12-18%) and can therefore be hardened.

Example:

1.4404 (X2CrNiMo17-12-2)

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