See Also

Stainless steel

In metallurgy, stainless steel is defined as a ferrous Iron

Iron is a chemical element [i] with the symbol Fe and atomic number [i] 26. ... 

 alloy Alloy

An alloy is a combination, either in solution [i] or compound [i], of two or more elements [i] ... 

 with a minimum of 10% chromium Chromium

Chromium is a chemical element [i] in the periodic table [i] that has the symbol Cr and atomic number [i] ... 

 content. The name originates from the fact that stainless steel does not stain, corrode or rust as easily as ordinary steel Steel

Steel is a metal [i] alloy [i] whose major component is iron [i], with carbon [i] content between 0.02% ... 

. This material is also called corrosion resistant steel when it is not detailed exactly to its alloy type and grade, particularly in the aviation industry. Stainless steels Steel

Steel is a metal [i] alloy [i] whose major component is iron [i], with carbon [i] content between 0.02% ... 

 have higher resistance to oxidation Redox

Redox reactions include all chemical processes [i] in which atoms have their oxidation number [i] ... 

  and corrosion Corrosion

Corrosion is deterioration of intrinsic [i] properties in a material due to reactions with its environme ... 

 in many natural and man made environments; however, it is important to select the correct type and grade of stainless steel for the particular application.

Discussions

  Discussion Features

   Ask a question about 'Stainless steel'

   Start a new discussion about 'Stainless steel'

   Answer questions about 'Stainless steel'

   'Stainless steel' discussion forum

Timeline

1913   Invention of stainless steel by Harry Brearley Harry Brearley

Harry Brearley was the inventor of "rustless steel". He was born in Sheffield [i], England [i]. ... 

 in Sheffield Sheffield

!colspan=2 align=center bgcolor="#ff9999"|City of Sheffield ... 

.

1914   First everyday items made of stainless steel come into public circulation.



Encyclopedia



In metallurgy, stainless steel is defined as a ferrous Iron

Iron is a chemical element [i] with the symbol Fe and atomic number [i] 26. ... 

 alloy Alloy

An alloy is a combination, either in solution [i] or compound [i], of two or more elements [i] ... 

 with a minimum of 10% chromium Chromium

Chromium is a chemical element [i] in the periodic table [i] that has the symbol Cr and atomic number [i] ... 

 content. The name originates from the fact that stainless steel does not stain, corrode or rust as easily as ordinary steel Steel

Steel is a metal [i] alloy [i] whose major component is iron [i], with carbon [i] content between 0.02% ... 

. This material is also called corrosion resistant steel when it is not detailed exactly to its alloy type and grade, particularly in the aviation industry.

Stainless steels Steel

Steel is a metal [i] alloy [i] whose major component is iron [i], with carbon [i] content between 0.02% ... 

 have higher resistance to oxidation Redox

Redox reactions include all chemical processes [i] in which atoms have their oxidation number [i] ... 

  and corrosion Corrosion

Corrosion is deterioration of intrinsic [i] properties in a material due to reactions with its environme ... 

 in many natural and man made environments; however, it is important to select the correct type and grade of stainless steel for the particular application.

High oxidation resistance in air at ambient temperature is normally achieved with additions of a minimum of 13% chromium Chromium

Chromium is a chemical element [i] in the periodic table [i] that has the symbol Cr and atomic number [i] ... 

, and up to 26% is used for harsh environments. The chromium forms a passivation layer of chromium oxide  when exposed to oxygen Oxygen

Oxygen is a chemical element [i] with the chemical symbol O and atomic number [i] 8.... 

. The layer is too thin to be visible, meaning the metal stays shiny. It is, however, impervious to water Water

Water is a taste [i]less, odor [i]less substance that is essential to all known forms of life [i] and i ... 

 and air, protecting the metal beneath. Also, when the surface is scratched this layer quickly reforms. This phenomenon is called passivation by materials scientists Materials science

Materials science is a multi-disciplinary field involving the properties of matter and its applications t... 

, and is seen in other metals, such as aluminium Aluminium

Aluminium or aluminum is the chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Al ... 

. When stainless steel parts such as nuts and bolt Screw

... 

s are forced together, the oxide layer can be scraped off causing the parts to weld Welding

Welding is a fabrication [i] process that joins materials, usually metal [i]s or thermoplastic [i] ... 

 together. When disassembled, the welded material may be torn and pitted, an effect that is known as galling.

Commercial value of stainless steel



Stainless steel's resistance to corrosion Corrosion

Corrosion is deterioration of intrinsic [i] properties in a material due to reactions with its environme ... 

 and staining, low maintenance, relative inexpense, and familiar luster make it an ideal base material for a host of commercial applications. There are over 150 grades of stainless steel, of which fifteen are most common. The alloy is milled into sheets, plates, bars, wire, and tubing to be used in cookware Cookware and bakeware

Cookware and bakeware are types of food preparation containers commonly found in the kitchen [i].
... 

, cutlery Cutlery

Cutlery refers to any hand utensil [i] used in preparing, serving, and especially eating food [i].... 

, hardware, surgical instruments, major appliances, industrial equipment, and building material in skyscrapers Skyscraper

A skyscraper is a very tall, continuously habitable building [i]. ... 

 and large buildings. See "Use in sculpture and building facades", below, for more.

Stainless steel is 100% recyclable Recycling



 
Recycling is the reprocessing of materials that would otherwise become waste [i] in order to... 

. In fact, over 50% of new stainless steel is made from remelted scrap metal, rendering it a somewhat eco-friendly material.

Corrosion

Even a high-quality alloy can corrode under certain conditions. Because these modes of corrosion are more exotic and their immediate results are less visible than rust, they often escape notice and cause problems among those who are not familiar with them.

Pitting corrosion

Passivation relies upon the tough layer of oxide described above. When deprived of oxygen , stainless steel lacks the ability to re-form a passivating film. In the worst case, almost all of the surface will be protected, but tiny local fluctuations will degrade the oxide film in a few critical points. Corrosion at these points will be greatly amplified, and can cause corrosion pits of several types, depending upon conditions. While the corrosion pits only nucleate under fairly extreme circumstances, they can continue to grow even when conditions return to normal, since the interior of a pit is naturally deprived of oxygen. In extreme cases, the sharp tips of extremely long and narrow pits can cause stress concentration Stress concentration

A stress concentration or stress riser is a location in an object where stress [i] is conce ... 

 to the point that otherwise tough alloys can shatter, or a thin film pierced by an invisibly small hole can hide a thumb sized pit from view. These problems are especially dangerous because they are difficult to detect before a part or structure fails. Pitting remains among the most common and damaging forms of corrosion in stainless alloys, but it can be prevented by ensuring that the material is exposed to oxygen and protected from chlorides wherever possible.

Pitting corrosion can occur when stainless steel is subjected to high concentration of chloride ions and moderately high temperatures. A textbook example for this was a replica of the Jet d'Eau Jet d'Eau

The Jet d'Eau, or water-jet, is a large fountain [i] in Geneva [i], Switzerland [i], and is one of t ... 

 fountain in Geneva Geneva

Geneva is the second most populous city in Switzerland [i] , and is the most populous city of Romandy [i] ... 

, ordered by an Arab Sheikh for installation in the Red Sea Red Sea

The Red Sea is an inlet of the Indian Ocean [i] between Africa [i] and Asia [i]. ... 

. The replica did not last long, because the engineers responsible failed to take into account the difference between the freshwater of Lake Geneva Lake Geneva

Lake Geneva or Lake Lman is the second largest freshwater lake [i] in Central Europe [i]. ... 

 and the saltwater of the sea.

Weld decay and knifeline attack


Due to the elevated temperatures of welding Welding

Welding is a fabrication [i] process that joins materials, usually metal [i]s or thermoplastic [i] ... 

 or during improper heat treatment, chromium carbide Carbide

In chemistry [i], Carbide may refer to three different things:
... 

s can form in the grain boundaries Crystallite

A crystallite is a domain of solid-state matter that has the same structure as a single crystal [i].
... 

 of stainless steel. This chemical reaction robs the alloy of chromium in the zone near the grain boundary, making those areas much less resistant to corrosion. This creates a galvanic couple Electrochemistry

Electrochemistry is a branch of chemistry [i] that studies the reactions which take place at the interfa ... 

 with the well-protected alloy nearby, which leads to weld decay in highly corrosive environments. Special alloys, either with low carbon content or with added carbon "getters" such as titanium Titanium

Titanium is a chemical element [i] in the periodic table [i] that has the symbol Ti and atomic number [i] ... 

 and niobium Niobium

Niobium is a chemical element [i] in the periodic table [i] that has the symbol Nb and atomic number [i] ... 

 , can prevent this effect, but the latter require special heat treatment after welding to prevent the similar phenomenon of knifeline attack. As its name implies, this is limited to a small zone, often only a few micrometres across, which causes it to proceed more rapidly. This zone is very near the weld, making it even less noticeable. Modern steel-making technologies largely avoid these problems by controlling the carbon content of stainless steels to <0.03% and historically such grades were referred to as "L" grades such as 316L; in practice most stainless steels are now produced at these low carbon contents.

Rouging

Rouging is a very peculiar phenomenon, which occurs only on polished stainless steel surfaces with very low surface roughness in a pure water environment. This effect is mostly common in the pharmaceutical industries. The whole effect is caused by the simple fact, pure water is lacking any ions and pulls the metal ions of the passive stainless steel surface into the solution. Iron ions do not dissolve at neutral pH and will precipitate as an iron hydroxide film, which has a reddish colour, hence the name rouging.

Intergranular corrosion

This is a largely historical problem related to the high carbon contents of steels from the past, for modern steels it is very rarely an issue.

Some compositions of stainless steel are prone to intergranular corrosion when exposed to certain environments. When heated to around 700 °C, chromium carbide Chromium carbide

Chromium carbide is an extremely hard [i] refractory [i] ceramic [i] material. ... 

 forms at the intergranular boundaries, depleting the grain edges of chromium, impairing their corrosion Corrosion

Corrosion is deterioration of intrinsic [i] properties in a material due to reactions with its environme ... 

 resistance. Steel in such condition is called sensitized. Steels with carbon content 0.06% undergo sensitization in about 2 minutes, while steels with carbon content under 0.02% are not sensitive to it.

It is possible to reclaim sensitized steel by heating it to above 1000 °C and holding at this temperature for a given period of time dependent on the mass of the piece, followed by quenching it in water. This process dissolves the carbide particles, then keeps them in solution.

It is also possible to stabilize the steel to avoid this effect and make it welding-friendly. Addition of titanium Titanium

Titanium is a chemical element [i] in the periodic table [i] that has the symbol Ti and atomic number [i] ... 

, niobium Niobium

Niobium is a chemical element [i] in the periodic table [i] that has the symbol Nb and atomic number [i] ... 

 and/or tantalum serves this purpose; titanium carbide Titanium carbide

Titanium carbide, Ti [i]C [i], is an extremely hard [i] refractory [i] ... 

, niobium carbide Niobium carbide

Niobium carbide is an extremely hard [i] refractory [i] ceramic [i] material, commer... 

 and tantalum carbide Tantalum carbide

Tantalum carbide is an extremely hard [i] refractory [i] ceramic [i] material, comme ... 

 form preferentially to chromium carbide, protecting the grains from chromium depletion. Use of extra-low carbon steels is another method and modern steel production usually ensures a carbon content of <0.03% at which level intergranular corrosion is not a problem. Light-gauge steel also does not tend to display this behavior, as the cooling after welding is too fast to cause effective carbide formation.

Crevice corrosion

In the presence of reducing acids or exposition to reducing Redox

Redox reactions include all chemical processes [i] in which atoms have their oxidation number [i] ... 

 atmosphere, the passivation layer protecting steel from corrosion can break down. This wear can also depend on the mechanical construction of the parts, eg. under gaskets, in sharp corners, or in incomplete welds. Such crevices may promote corrosion, if their size allows penetration of the corroding agent but not its free movement. The mechanism of crevice corrosion is similar to pitting corrosion, though it happens at lower temperatures.

Stress corrosion cracking

Stress corrosion cracking is a rapid and severe form of stainless steel corrosion. It forms when the material is subjected to tensile stress and some kinds of corrosive environments, especially chloride-rich environments at higher temperatures. The stresses can be a result of the service loads, or can be caused by the type of assembly or residual stresses from fabrication ; the residual stresses can be relieved by annealing. This limits the usefulness of stainless steels of the 300 series for containing water with higher than few ppm content of chlorides at temperatures above 50 °C. In more agressive conditions, higher alloyed austenitic stainless steels or Mo containing duplex stainless steels may be selected.

Stress corrosion cracking depends on the nickel Nickel

Nickel is a metallic chemical element [i] in the periodic table [i] that has the symbol Ni and atomic number [i] ... 

 content.

Sulphide stress cracking

Sulphide stress cracking is an important failure mode in the oil industry, where the steel comes into contact with liquids or gases with considerable hydrogen sulfide Hydrogen sulfide

Hydrogen sulfide, H2S, is a colorless, toxic [i], flammable gas [i] that is responsible for the foul odo ... 

 content, e.g., sour gas. It is influenced by the tensile stress and is worsened in the presence of chloride ions. Very high levels of hydrogen sulfide apparently inhibit the corrosion. Rising temperature increases the influence of chloride ions, but decreases the effect of sulfide, due to its increased mobility through the lattice; the most critical temperature range for sulphide stress cracking is between 60-100 °C.

Galvanic corrosion

Galvanic corrosion Galvanic Corrosion

Sorry, no overview for this topic 

 occurs when a galvanic cell Galvanic cell

The Galvanic cell, named after Luigi Galvani [i], consists of two metals connected by a salt bridge [i]... 

 is formed between two dissimilar metals. The resulting electrochemical potential then leads to formation of an electric current that leads to electrolytic dissolving of the less noble material. This effect can be prevented by electrical insulation of the materials, e.g. by using rubber or plastic sleeves or washers, keeping the parts dry so there is no electrolyte to form the cell, or keeping the size of the less-noble material significantly larger than the more noble ones

If these options are not available to protect from galvanic corrosion, a sacrificial anode can be used to protect the less noble metal. For example, if a system is composed of 316 SS, a very noble alloy with a low galvanic potential, and a mild steel, a very active metal with high galvanic potential, the mild steel will corrode in the presence of an electrolyte such as salt water. If a sacrificial anode is used such as a Mil-Spec A-18001K zinc alloy, Mil-Spec A-24779 aluminum alloy, or magnesium, these anodes will corrode instead, protecting the other metals in the system. The anode must be electrically connected to the protected metal in order to be able to preserve them. This is common practice in the marine industry to protect ship equipment. Boats and vessels that are in salt water use either zinc alloy or aluminum alloy. If the boats are only in fresh water, a magnesium alloy is used. Magnesium has one of the highest galvanic potential of any metal. If it is used in a saltwater application on a steel or aluminum hull boat, hydrogen bubbles will form under the paint, causing blistering and peeling.

Contact corrosion

Contact corrosion is a combination of galvanic corrosion and crevice corrosion, occurring where small particles of suitable foreign material are embedded to the stainless steel. Carbon steel Plain-carbon steel

Plain-carbon steel is a metal [i] alloy [i], a combination of two elements, iron [i] and carbon [i], whe ... 

 is a very common contaminant here, coming from nearby grinding of carbon steel or use of tools contaminated with carbon steel particles. The particle forms a galvanic cell, and quickly corrodes away, but may leave a pit in the stainless steel from which pitting corrosion may rapidly progress. Some workshops therefore have separate areas and separate sets of tools for handling carbon steel and stainless steel, and care has to be exercised to prevent direct contact between stainless steel parts and carbon steel storage racks.

Particles of carbon steel can be removed from a contaminated part by passivation with dilute nitric acid Nitric acid

The chemical compound [i] nitric acid , otherwise known as aqua fortis or spirit of nitre, i ... 

, or by pickling Pickling

Pickling, or corning, is the process of preparing a food [i] by soaking and storing it in a brine [i] ... 

 with a mixture of hydrofluoric acid Hydrofluoric acid

Hydrofluoric acid is a highly corrosive solution [i] of hydrogen fluoride [i] in water [i]. ... 

 and nitric acid.

See also and

Types of stainless steel

There are different types of stainless steels: when nickel Nickel

Nickel is a metallic chemical element [i] in the periodic table [i] that has the symbol Ni and atomic number [i] ... 

 is added, for instance, the austenite Austenite

Austenite is a metallic, non-magnetic solid solution of iron [i] and an alloying element. ... 

 structure of iron is stabilized. This crystal structure makes such steels non-magnetic Magnetism

In physics [i], magnetism is one of the phenomena [i] by which materials [i] exert an attractive or repu ... 

 and less brittle at low temperatures. For higher hardness Hardness

In materials science [i], hardness is the characteristic of a solid [i] material expressing its resistan ... 

 and strength, carbon Carbon

Carbon is a chemical element [i] in the periodic table [i] that has the symbol [i] C' ... 

 is added. When subjected to adequate heat treatment these steels are used as razor Razor

A razor is an edge tool [i]. ... 

 blades, cutlery Cutlery

Cutlery refers to any hand utensil [i] used in preparing, serving, and especially eating food [i].... 

, tool Tool

A tool or device is a piece of equipment that provides a mechanical advantage [i] in accomp ... 

s etc.

Significant quantities of manganese Manganese

Manganese is a chemical element [i] in the periodic table [i] that has the symbol Mn and atomic number [i] ... 

 have been used in many stainless steel compositions. Manganese preserves an austenitic structure in the steel as does nickel, but at a lower cost.

Stainless steels are also classified by their crystalline structure Crystal structure

In mineralogy [i] and crystallography [i], a crystal structure is a unique arrangement of atoms in a crystal [i] ... 

:
  • Austenitic Austenite

    Austenite is a metallic, non-magnetic solid solution of iron [i] and an alloying element. ... 

     stainless steels comprise over 70% of total stainless steel production. They contain a maximum of 0.15% carbon, a minimum of 16% chromium and sufficient nickel and/or manganese to retain an austenitic structure at all temperatures from the cryogenic region to the melting point of the alloy. A typical composition is 18% chromium and 10% nickel, commonly known as 18/10 stainless is often used in flatware Cutlery

    Cutlery refers to any hand utensil [i] used in preparing, serving, and especially eating food [i].... 

    . Similarly 18/0 and 18/8 is also available. “Superaustenitic” stainless steels, such as alloy AL-6XN and 254SMO, exhibit great resistance to chloride pitting and crevice corrosion due to high Molybdenum contents and nitrogen additions and the higher nickel content ensures better resistance to stress-corrosion cracking over the 300 series. The higher alloy content of "Superaustenitic" steels means they are fearsomely expensive and similar performance can usually be achieved using duplex steels at much lower cost.


  • Ferritic stainless steels are highly corrosion resistant, but far less durable than austenitic grades and cannot be hardened by heat treatment. They contain between 10.5% and 27% chromium and very little nickel, if any. Most compositions include molybdenum; some, aluminium or titanium Titanium

    Titanium is a chemical element [i] in the periodic table [i] that has the symbol Ti and atomic number [i] ... 

    . Common ferritic grades include 18Cr-2Mo, 26Cr-1Mo, 29Cr-4Mo, and 29Cr-4Mo-2Ni.


  • Martensitic Martensite

    Martensite, named after the German metallurgist [i] Adolf Martens [i], is any cystal structur ... 

     stainless steels are not as corrosion resistant as the other two classes, but are extremely strong and tough as well as highly machineable Machining

    Machining is an occupation [i] or hobby [i] that involves using a power-driven machine tool [i] ... 

    , and can be hardened by heat treatment. Martensitic stainless steel contains chromium Chromium

    Chromium is a chemical element [i] in the periodic table [i] that has the symbol Cr and atomic number [i] ... 

     , molybdenum , no nickel Nickel

    Nickel is a metallic chemical element [i] in the periodic table [i] that has the symbol Ni and atomic number [i] ... 

    , and about 0.1-1% carbon Carbon

    Carbon is a chemical element [i] in the periodic table [i] that has the symbol [i] C' ... 

     . It is quenched and magnetic. It is also known as "series-00" steel.


  • Precipitation-hardening martensitic stainless steels have corrosion resistance comparable to austenitic varieties, but can be precipitation hardened to even higher strengths than the other martensitic grades. The most common, 17-4PH, uses about 17% chromium and 4% nickel.


  • Duplex stainless steels have a mixed microstructure of austenite and ferrite, the aim being to produce a 50:50 mix although in commercial alloys the mix may be 40:60 respectively. Duplex steel have improved strength over austenitic stainless steels and also improved resistance to localised corrosion particularly pitting, crevice corrosion and stress corrosion cracking. They are characterised by high chromium and molybdenum and lower nickel contents than austenitic stainless steels.

Comparison of standardized steels

EN-standard
Steel no.
EN-standard
Steel name
ASTM/AISI American Iron and Steel Institute

The American Iron and Steel Institute is an association [i] of North America [i]n... 


Steel type
UNS
1.4016 X6Cr17 430  
1.4512 X6CrTi12 409  
1.4310 X10CrNi18-8 301  
1.4318 X2CrNiN18-7 301LN  
1.4307 X2CrNi18-9 304L S30403
1.4306 X2CrNi19-11 304L S30403
1.4311 X2CrNiN18-10 304LN S30453
1.4301 X5CrNi18-10 304 S30400
1.4948 X6CrNi18-11 304H S30409
1.4303 X5CrNi18 12 305
1.4541 X6CrNiTi18-10 321
1.4878 X12CrNiTi18-9 321H S32109
1.4404 X2CrNiMo17-12-2 316L S31603
1.4401 X5CrNiMo17-12-2 316 S31600
1.4406 X2CrNiMoN17-12-2 316LN S31653
1.4432 X2CrNiMo17-12-3 316L S31603
1.4435 X2CrNiMo18-14-3 316L S31603
1.4436 X3CrNiMo17-13-3 316 S31600
1.4571 X6CrNiMoTi17-12-2 316Ti S31635
1.4429 X2CrNiMoN17-13-3 316LN S31653
1.4438 X2CrNiMo18-15-4 317L S31703
1.4539 X1NiCrMoCu25-20-5 904L N08904
1.4547 X1CrNiMoCuN20-18-7 S31254

Stainless steel finishes


Standard mill finishes can be applied to flat rolled stainless steel directly by the rollers and by mechanical abrasives. Steel is first rolled to size and thickness and then annealed to change the properties of the final material. Any oxidation Redox

Redox reactions include all chemical processes [i] in which atoms have their oxidation number [i] ... 

 that forms on the surface is removed by pickling Pickling

Pickling, or corning, is the process of preparing a food [i] by soaking and storing it in a brine [i] ... 

, and the passivation layer is created on the surface. A final finish can then be applied to achieve the desired aesthetic appearance.
  • No. 0 - Hot Rolled Annealed, thicker plates
  • No. 1 - Hot rolled, annealed and passivated
  • No, 2D - cold rolled, annealed, pickled and passivated
  • No, 2B - same as above with additional pass through polished rollers
  • No, 2BA - Bright Anealed same as above with highly polished rollers
  • No. 3 - coarse abrasive finish applied mechanically
  • No. 4 - fine abrasive finish
  • No. 6 - matte finish
  • No. 7 - reflective finish
  • No. 8 - mirror finish

History

A few corrosion-resistant iron artifacts survive from antiquity. A famous example is the Iron Pillar of Delhi Qutb complex

The Qutb complex is an array of monuments and buildings at Mehrauli in Delhi [i], India [i], the most fa ... 

, erected by order of Kumara Gupta I Kumara Gupta I

Kumaragupta (Mahendraditya) was ruler of the Gupta Empire [i] from 415 [i]-455 [i] CE [i] ... 

 around the year AD 400. However, unlike stainless steel, these artifacts owe their durability not to chromium, but to their high phosphorus Phosphorus

|-
| Critical temperature [i] || 994 K [i]
... 

 content, which together with favorable local weather conditions promotes the formation of a solid protective passivation layer of iron oxide Iron oxide

Altogether there are 16 known iron [i] oxide [i]s.
... 

s and phosphate Phosphate

In inorganic chemistry [i], a phosphate is a salt [i] of phosphoric acid [i]. ... 

s, rather than the non-protective, cracked rust Rust

Rust is the substance formed when iron [i] compounds corrode in the presence of oxygen [i] and water [i] ... 

 layer that develops on most ironwork.

The corrosion resistance of iron-chromium alloys was first recognized in 1821 by the French France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country [i] whose metropolitan territory [i] ... 

 metallurgist Pierre Berthier, who noted their resistance against attack by some acids and suggested their use in cutlery Cutlery

Cutlery refers to any hand utensil [i] used in preparing, serving, and especially eating food [i].... 

. However, the metallurgists of the 19th century were unable to produce the combination of low carbon and high chromium found in most modern stainless steels, and the high-chromium alloys they could produce were too brittle to be of practical interest.

This situation changed in the late 1890s, when Hans Goldschmidt of Germany Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country [i] in central Europe [i]. ... 

 developed an aluminothermic process for producing carbon-free chromium. In the years 1904–1911, several researchers, particularly Leon Guillet of France, prepared alloys that would today be considered stainless steel. In 1911, Philip Monnartz of Germany reported on the relationship between the chromium content and corrosion resistance of these alloys.

Harry Brearley Harry Brearley

Harry Brearley was the inventor of "rustless steel". He was born in Sheffield [i], England [i]. ... 

 of the Brown-Firth research laboratory in Sheffield, England Sheffield

!colspan=2 align=center bgcolor="#ff9999"|City of Sheffield
... 

 is most commonly credited as the "inventor" of stainless steel. In 1913, while seeking an erosion-resistant alloy for gun barrels, he discovered and subsequently industrialized a martensitic stainless steel alloy. However, similar industrial developments were taking place contemporaneously at the Krupp Krupp

The Krupp family, a prominent 400-year-old German [i] dynasty from Essen [i], have become famous ... 

 Iron Works in Germany, where Eduard Maurer and Benno Strauss were developing an austenitic alloy , and in the United States, where Christian Dantsizen and Frederick Becket were industrializing ferritic stainless.

Already in the year 1908 Krupp had built a famous sailing-yacht featuring a chrome-nickel steel hull, or so it seems - its wreck being currently investigated by the Bureau of Archaeological Research of the State of Florida.

Use in sculpture and building facades

  • Stainless steel was particularly in vogue during the art deco Art Deco

    Art Deco also known as Style Moderne or 1925 Style, was a twentieth century movement in the... 

     period. The most famous example of this is the upper portion of the Chrysler Building Chrysler Building

    The Chrysler Building is a skyscraper [i] and distinctive symbol of New York City [i], standing 1,046 fe ... 

     . Diners and fast food restaurants feature large ornamental panels, stainless fixtures and furniture. Owing to the durability of the material, many of these buildings still retain their original and spectacular appearance.
  • In recent years the forging of stainless steel has given rise to a fresh approach to architectural blacksmith Blacksmith

    A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from iron [i] or steel [i] by "forging" the metal; i.e., by ... 

    ing. The work of illustrates this well.
  • Also pictured above, the Gateway Arch Jefferson National Expansion Memorial

    The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial is located in St. Louis, Missouri [i] near the start of the Lewis and Clark Expedition [i] ... 

     is clad entirely in stainless steel: 886 Tons of 1/4" plate, #3 Finish, Type 304.
  • Type 316 stainless is used on the exterior of both the Petronas Twin Towers Petronas Twin Towers

    The Petronas Twin Towers, in Kuala Lumpur [i], Malaysia [i], were once the world's tallest buildings [i] ... 

     and the Jin Mao Building Jin Mao Building

    The Jin Mao Building or Jin Mao Tower is an 88-story landmark [i] skyscraper [i] in the Lujiazui [i] ... 

    , two of the world's tallest skyscraper Skyscraper

    A skyscraper is a very tall, continuously habitable building [i]. ... 

    s.
  • Stainless Steel is the fourth common material used in metal wall tiles, and is used for its corrosion resistance properties in kitchens and bathrooms.

See also

  • AISI steel grades
  • Budd Company Budd Company

    The Budd Company is a metal fabricator and major supplier of body components to the automobile [i] indus... 

      Historically notable user of stainless steel

References


External links

  • by International Stainless Steel Forum
  • by The Stainless Steel Information Center
  • by Cambridge University