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What is Stainless Steel ?
Stainless steel is not a single alloy, but rather the name applies to a group of iron-based
alloys containing a minimum 10.5% chromium. Other elements are added and the
chromium content increased to improve the corrosion resistance and heat resisting
properties, enhance mechanical properties, and/or improve fabricating characteristics.
There are over 50 stainless steel grades that were originally recognized by the American
Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Three general classifications are used to identify stainless
steel. They are:
1) Metallurgical structure.
2) The AISI numbering system (200, 300 and 400 series numbers).
3) The Unified Numbering System, which was developed by the American Society
for Testing Materials (ASTM) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to apply
to all commercial metals and alloys.
The various types of stainless steel are detailed in a designer handbook, “Design
Guidelines for the Selection and Use of Stainless Steel,” available from the Specialty
Steel Industry of North America (SSINA). Several other publications are also available,
including: “Stainless Steel Fabrication,” “Stainless Steel Fasteners,” “Stainless Steel
to mention a few.
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