Depending on their composition, stainless steel alloys can be used in different environments. Step by step, we are presenting the properties of the individual alloys - today our topic is refractory steel.
This term refers to steel grades that can also be used in the high-temperature range - meaning temperatures between 600 and 1,200 degrees Celsius, which cannot harm these special steels.
For some industries, heat-resistant steel is indispensable, because they permanently operate in this high temperature range. But there are also applications for refractory steel in the private sphere. Although it is not permanently stressed by heat there, high temperatures can occur again and again - just think of a barbecue or a fire pit in the garden.
Refractory steel: how is it composed?
First of all, in terms of microstructure we must distinguish between ferritic and austenitic steels and nickel-based alloys. There are, however, no structural differences from conventional steel grades that cannot be described as heat-resistant.
There are, however, differences in the composition of refractory steel. For a steel grade to be resistant to particularly high temperatures, it must have a higher carbon content. Depending on the refractory steel alloy in question, certain proportions of silicon, aluminium or nitrogen are added. In the case of a nickel-based alloy, copper, boron and cobalt also play an important role.
Properties of heat-resistant steel
For steel to be usable at high temperatures, it must have certain material properties. These include corrosion resistance at high temperatures.
Refractory steel is scale-resistant thanks to an oxide layer - one of its most important properties. Because the material is subjected to extreme stress by alternating between high temperatures and room temperature, heat-resistant steel must be resistant to embrittlement.
A stable microstructure ensures high creep resistance even at high temperatures. In general, all steel grades regarded as refractory also have a high mechanical load capacity.
What do you need refractory steel for?
The fields of application are diverse. Refractory steel is used particularly often in furnace construction - on the one hand for wood-burning stoves as used in private households, but far more importantly in large industrial production plants that permanently operate at very high temperatures. Examples include the ceramics industry with its kilns. The glass industry also works at correspondingly high temperatures, which is why heat-resistant steel is frequently used there.
Individual parts of machines and plants are also often made of refractory steel - steam boilers or heat exchangers, for example. Without refractory steel for furnace construction, industrial furnace engineering would be unthinkable. There would be no bright annealing lines in the steel and non-ferrous metal industries, and bell-type furnaces for the heat treatment of wire, among other things, would not be possible either.
In the private sphere, apart from the fireplace and the oven, there are few objects that are permanently used at high temperatures. The exception is all fire features made of steel: the fire bowl in the garden or the barbecue must of course also be made of refractory steel so that they can be used permanently.
Refractory steel can be processed flexibly
If you want to use a steel grade for your project that can also be used at high temperatures, you need not compromise on processing. Heat-resistant steel hardly differs from conventional steel: you must observe the same steps when drilling stainless steel for it to succeed.
For welding and bending sheets, you can also follow our guides and thus produce a stainless steel sheet that fits your application perfectly. Alternatively, you can of course rely on the support of a professional and, for example, order an individual sheet from us.
Not merchandise for the DIY store
Even though stainless steel - and refractory stainless steel in particular - is widely used, it is not merchandise from the DIY store. Refractory steel for furnace construction and all other purposes is a special material that you can only obtain through the specialist trade. Locally, that could be a metalworking company.
Or you simply order online from us. At ESC Burg we have specialised in producing individual sheets on behalf of our customers. There are no off-the-shelf products with us, as we work exclusively to customer order - and we make no distinction between a private customer and a commercial customer with a larger order volume.
Personal advice for every customer
If you want to commission sheets from us, the route always leads through our sales team. That may sound a little old-fashioned in the age of online shopping, but it serves an important purpose: these short consultations allow us to make sure you choose the right alloy for your intended use. We can also advise you on the optimum material thickness - after all, it makes a real difference whether you use a 10 mm or a 4 mm stainless steel plate for a self-designed shelf.
We can also quote you the price for your desired sheet immediately, and you can order right away. If you do, your job goes straight into our production.
Fast production and delivery
In our production, almost all orders are manufactured and dispatched within 48 hours. So you only have to wait a few days with us until you can install your sheet with individual dimensions.
That probably makes us considerably faster than if you procured a sheet and then processed it yourself. And we are presumably also faster than the local metal fabricator, who is not geared to smaller orders at all. Our machines and our stock of more than 2,000 tonnes of sheet in various grades and thicknesses, however, are designed for exactly that.
Various services around stainless steel
Sheet cutting is of course the heart of our company. But we also offer our customers the forming of sheets. So if you need a stainless steel profile or an angle, we can produce it in any size. Professional machines guarantee a precise bend to your specifications.
We also take care of sheet surfaces and offer various surface treatment processes as a service, including different grinding processes, foil protection and pickling. We are happy to take these work steps off your hands for your project too - leaving only the installation for you.
In short: we are your competent partner for refractory steel and sheets of all kinds. Feel free to contact us if you would like to know more!
+49 3921 72-0