Stainless steel alloys can be easy to work with, yet not all grades are created equal. Some are more resistant to corrosive environments than others and it is crucial that you understand your environment before selecting an alloy grade.
316l stainless steel is an austenitic grade with increased resistance to corrosion and oxidation under stress-induce environments, offering exceptional resistance against corrosion and oxidation as well as offering excellent strength and weldability.
304 Stainless Steel
304 stainless steel is an economical, multipurpose alloy suitable for various uses. As it’s non-magnetic steel and resistant to corrosion – especially acidic environments – it makes an excellent choice for marine applications.
304 stainless steel stands out from other metals by having an exceptionally low carbon content. This helps increase strength, ductility and weldability; and enhances weldability too. 304 is an austenitic stainless steel with low levels of carbon, high levels of nickel and chromium levels as well as being non-reactive with regards to heat resistance.
Like its sister grades of stainless steels, 304 is easy to work with, offering traditional welding processes and easily formed into different shapes using traditional welding processes. Cold rolling can create thicker sheets while its corrosion-resistance makes it popular choice in industrial settings including food and beverage processing applications.
It offers excellent corrosion resistance against chemicals, industrial environments and marine environments, including resistance against sulfuric, phosphoric and hydrochloric acids which cause corrosion.
304 stainless steel stands out among other grades as it offers excellent corrosion resistance, strength, durability and recyclable properties. One of the most frequently used grades, 304 can also be found with mill finish, 2B, No 4 and No 8 finishes (brushed).
No matter the application, all stainless steels must be fabricated using dedicated tools and work surfaces dedicated to this material. This will help avoid contamination that may discolour finished product and cause corrosion. All fabricated components should also be fully annealed after fabrication in order to reduce internal stresses and optimise corrosion resistance. For those requiring higher machinability or reduced corrosion resistance, grades such as 303 or 321 may be better. Although their corrosion resistance and formability decrease over time.
316 Stainless Steel
316 stainless steel is a superior grade than its cheaper cousin 304 grade, boasting increased corrosion resistance against environments containing chlorides – such as chemical processing plants or marine environments – making it popular with chemical processing facilities and marine environments, medical and surgical equipment, medical imaging, as well as being non-magnetic and resistant to most chemicals. It’s often chosen as the material of choice when designing industrial processing plants or marine equipment due to its enhanced corrosion-resistance capabilities. Common uses for it include chemical processing plants and marine environments, medical imaging equipment, medical and surgical equipment as well as chemical processing plants or marine environments where chlorides levels exist, medical imaging equipment or both are present; making 316 steel an ideal material choice as it features increased corrosion-resistance compared to its standard grade counterpart of 304, as well as marine environments or chemical-rich environments such as chemical processing plants or marine environments where chlorides present; medical surgical equipment uses also frequent use occurs frequently as its increased corrosion-resistance features due to molybdenum contributing to enhanced corrosion-resistance while molybdenum enhances strength/stabilities thus making this alloy non-magnetic and resistant against many chemicals being exposed during processing plants or marine environments useable without major damages occurring when exposed to chlorides environments present.
316 stainless steel offers great formability and welding efficiency, and its lifespan can last several years without needing repairs or replacement. Due to these characteristics, 316 stainless steel is often chosen for outdoor applications as it stands up well against harsh weather conditions and corrosion from saltwater environments.
As with other austenitic stainless steel grades, 316 is an alloy composed of iron, chromium, nickel and molybdenum. As with its austenitic counterparts, 316 features non-magnetic corrosion resistance with low carbon content for added strength and stability in industrial settings.
Over the past year, prices of 316 stainless steel have fluctuated considerably. Prices dropped dramatically in early 2018, before recovering as demand for it increased again in recent weeks. Much of this drop can be attributed to fluctuating nickel markets that play a primary role in alloying this metal alloying component.
Even with its slightly higher cost, 316 stainless steel remains an affordable choice compared to other stainless steels. You can purchase it in various forms – sheet and rod are among them – making it simple to find what suits your needs best. Plus, its superior corrosion resistance makes 316 an excellent choice for projects requiring extreme durability.
Oil and gas pipelines often make use of stainless steel because it can withstand extreme temperatures and corrosion, while chemical processing equipment often uses it due to its ability to withstand strong acids. When selecting which stainless steel alloy to use for your project or budget considerations, an all-in-one metal fabricator will assist in selecting an alloy tailored specifically for its requirements.
316L Stainless Steel
316L stainless steel offers similar chemical concentration as its 304 counterpart, but contains less carbon, making it better suited for shaping into your project shapes without cracking. Furthermore, it has higher temperature resistance making it suitable for more demanding environments as well as good corrosion resistance making it suitable for marine use.
Molybdenum content of 316L stainless steel renders it resistant to chloride ion corrosion, helping it resist pitting and crevice corrosion in warm seawater applications like those offered by oil and gas companies. Even so, it still exposes it to potential oxidation when exposed to warm seawater environments; additionally it may experience stress corrosion cracking at temperatures exceeding 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
316L stainless steel is highly weldable, easily joining together with other metals and steels without issue. This makes it an excellent option for projects requiring welding and fabrication; furthermore, its high tensile strength makes it suitable for structural strength applications.
Plastic injection molding offers many medical device uses; one example being creating custom-fitted finger splints designed specifically to each patient’s hand shape and designed with much greater comfort in mind than plastic injection molded versions.
This variety of stainless steel is often utilized in medical devices, including blood vessels and surgical equipment. Due to its biocompatibility and easy cleaning and sterilization process, this stainless steel type is well suited for medical uses and easily sterilized for surgical procedures. Furthermore, its tough nature withstands acids and caustics – making it a suitable material for chemical processing – often used to construct tanks and pipes in chemical industries.
316L stainless steel is more expensive due to its higher nickel content; however, its superior corrosion resistance makes up for it. Its higher chromium content helps prevent oxygen contact with steel that causes pitting corrosion; nickel prices were once an influential factor when considering this purchase decision, but these have since stabilized.
410 Stainless Steel
410 stainless steel is an all-purpose martensitic grade with moderate corrosion resistance and excellent mechanical properties, such as welding ease. Hardening with heat treatment can increase its corrosion resistance and strength further; welding is easy making this grade ideal for applications including automotive components, household hardware and cutlery – often combined with stronger stainless grades such as 316.
410 stainless steel stands out from other forms of stainless steel by virtue of its molybdenum content, which increases corrosion resistance and helps prevent stress corrosion cracking. Furthermore, its magnetic qualities make it an excellent choice for fasteners which may be exposed to constant moisture or chemicals environments.
Stainless steel comes in various forms, from rod, strip, wire and plate to complex profile shapes rolled into it for variable cross-sections or irregular (asymmetric) profiles. Cold or hot rolling are used depending on desired hardness – cold rolled stainless is typically preferred for intricate designs that require minimal processing; hot rolling metal offers thinner materials with more strength.
Grade 410 steel can be readily welded, although preheating may reduce the risk of cracking. Annealing should follow welding to maintain its properties and prevent deformation.
As well as its primary applications, aluminum alloy is also ideal for use in other fields such as surgical and dental instrument fabrication, industrial machinery manufacturing and household hardware production. Furthermore, due to its excellent corrosion resistance in steam environments it makes an excellent material choice for steam turbines and other power generation equipment.
Stainless steel is an extremely resilient material, capable of withstanding heavy loads and extreme weather conditions. As such, it makes an ideal material for construction projects in coastal or industrial environments, and manufacturing parts that require high strength along with corrosion resistance. It has also proven incredibly popular as a choice in parts manufacturing projects due to its versatility and versatility.
