What are the 3 grades of stainless steel?

The general idea behind grading the metal is that stainless steel can be divided into three broad categories — austenitic, ferritic, and martensitic — based on the crystalline structure of its iron atoms.

What are 3 main categories of stainless steel?

How many grades of stainless steel are there?

Stainless steel is available in a variety of grades, which are generally categorized into five main types: Austenitic. The most common type of steel, austenitic stainless steels contain nickel, manganese, nitrogen, and sometimes molybdenum in addition to iron and chromium.

What's the different grades of stainless steel?

The two most common stainless steel grades are 304 and 316. The key difference is the addition of molybdenum, an alloy which drastically enhances corrosion resistance, especially for more saline or chloride-exposed environments. 316 stainless steel contains molybdenum. 304 stainless steel does not.

What is the best grade in stainless steel?

Overall, grade 316 is usually the better choice when making food-grade stainless steel containers. 316 SS is more chemically-resistant in a variety of applications, and especially when dealing with salt and stronger acidic compounds such as lemon or tomato juice.

Stainless Steel Grades Explained

Is 304 or 316 stainless steel stronger?

There is little difference between alloys when it comes to strength, but corrosion resistance is where the 316 truly surpasses the 304.

How can I tell if my stainless steel is 304 or 316?

Try the magnet test. If the magnet sticks it cannot be 316 and might be 304. If the magnet doesn't stick it could be either 316 or cold worked 304, so heat the piece to about 800 °C, let air-cool and try again with magnet. If it sticks now its 304 SST.

What is the lowest grade stainless steel?

Martensitic Grades

They are magnetic and can be hardened by heat treating. The martensitic grades are mainly used where hardness, strength, and wear resistance are required. Basic martensitic grade, containing the lowest alloy content of the three basic stainless steels (304, 430, and 410).

Does 316 stainless steel rust?

Stainless steel is not that it cannot rust, but it is not easy to rust. 316 stainless steel will rust after a long time. Due to the addition of Mo element, 316 stainless steel has greatly improved its corrosion resistance and high temperature resistance.

How many steel grades are there?

The Four Types of Steel

Authorities grade and categorize steel types into four groups—Carbon, Alloy, Stainless, and Tool.

What is 202 grade stainless steel?

Grade 202 stainless steel is a type of Cr-Ni-Mn stainless with similar properties to A240/SUS 302 stainless steel. The toughness of grade 202 at low temperatures is excellent.

What is a high grade stainless steel?

With a high level of carbon, 440 stainless steel is one of the strongest types used in the kitchen. Products made out of 440 stainless steel are hard, corrosion resistant, and can stand up to wear and tear very well.

What are the 5 families of stainless steels?

There are five families of stainless steel: ferritic, martensitic, austenitic, duplex, and precipitation hardening. These names are derived from the crystal structure of the steels, which determines their metallurgical behavior.

How do I know if my SS is 304 or SS 202?

How To Identify SS 304 And SS 202? Both the materials look similar when they have not rusted. The best visual clue is a spark test. When ground with a grinder, the sparks of 304 fly longer and are more reddish in color.

What's the difference between 316 and 316L?

316L stainless steel is almost identical to 316. The only difference is the carbon content. 316L's lower carbon content imparts even better corrosion resistance than 316. 316L does not require post-weld annealing.

Is 316 stainless steel good quality?

Though the stainless steel 304 alloy has a higher melting point, grade 316 has a better resistance to chemicals and chlorides (like salt) than grade 304 stainless steel. When it comes to applications with chlorinated solutions or exposure to salt, grade 316 stainless steel is considered superior.

What is 409 grade stainless steel?

409 is a ferritic stainless steel with less chromium and very little nickel. It less expensive to produce than 304, but also provides less corrosion resistance. These two alloys the most common stainless steels used for car exhaust systems.

How can you tell the quality of stainless steel?

The nickel is the key to forming austenite stainless steel.

So the “magnet test” is to take a magnet to your stainless steel cookware, and if it sticks, it's “safe”—indicating no nickel present—but if it doesn't stick, then it's not safe, and contains nickel (which is an austenite steel).

What is grade 318 stainless steel?

Description. 1.4462 / AISI 318 LN is a duplex austenitic-ferritic chromium-nickel-molybdenum stainless steel. Special properties. 1.4462 belongs to the DUPLEX-family. This grade has a good resistance against pitting and stress corrosion cracking.

Does a magnet stick to 304 stainless steel?

All stainless steel is magnetic except austenitic stainless steel which is actually 300 series stainless such as 304 and 316. However, 300 series stainless is non-magnetic only after it is freshly formed. 304 is almost for sure to become magnetic after cold work such as pressing, blasting, cutting, etc.

How can you tell the difference between 303 and 304 stainless steel?

What is the Difference Between 303 and 304 Stainless Steel? Grade 303 stainless steel is similar to grade 304 stainless, but with sulfur added to help increase machinability while maintaining both corrosion resistance and mechanical elements that are associated with stainless steel.

What is 300 series stainless steel?

The 300 series austenitic stainless steels are a set of iron-based chromium-nickel alloys designed to resist corrosion. This in combination with excellent formability, resistance to wear, and strength at temperature make them common materials of construction within piping systems.

Can 316 SS be welded?

Austenitic stainless steels can be welded together using many different welding processes. Some are more preferred for welding than others, such as 304, 308, 316, 321, and 347 which are all austenitic grades that are weldable.

What is 316l stainless steel used for?

It is commonly used in chemical and petrochemical industry, in food processing, pharmaceutical equipment, medical devices, in potable water, wastewater treatment, in marine applications and architectural applications near the seashore or in urban areas.

What does the L stand for in 304L stainless steel?

In grade 304 stainless, the maximum carbon content is set at 0.08%, whereas grade 304L stainless steel has a maximum carbon content of 0.03%. The “L” in 304L can be interpreted as meaning extra-low carbon.