We think it is high time we gave you an overview of the various stainless steel grades. In our articles, we have already covered special steel grades such as duplex steel, and we have given you advice on working stainless steel - our article on gluing stainless steel is one example.
To prepare you for selecting the right grade of stainless steel for your project, today we want to give you a short, concise overview. Which types of stainless steel are there? What distinguishes ferritic steel from austenitic steel? How do we know all this? Because we are experts in stainless steel - ESC Burg stands for Edelstahl Service Center Burg, after all.
What actually is stainless steel?
The German term "Edelstahl" stems from the fact that it is a particularly pure form of steel. This purity is defined by particularly low proportions of certain constituents. A further distinction can be made between alloyed and unalloyed types of stainless steel.
As a material and building material, stainless steel has long been indispensable. It is available in large quantities, has a long service life and is durable in various environments. In shipping and offshore applications, pipes and lines made of special stainless steel are essential. You have probably also heard of V2A or V4A steel, which is considered particularly corrosion-resistant.
Stainless steel grades at a glance
In general, the types of stainless steel are divided into three groups. We would like to introduce them and name their fields of use, so that you can roughly categorise which group the stainless steel for your project might fall into.
Austenitic steel
This is the most widespread type of stainless steel. Austenitic steel is a chromium-nickel steel. There is also an austenitic-ferritic stainless steel that contains molybdenum in addition to chromium and nickel. Austenitic steel is a crystal mixture of chromium-nickel alloys and steel. Corrosion resistance increases the higher the proportion of chromium or molybdenum.
Due to its resistance to corrosion, many components and screws are made of austenitic steel. However, the hardness of this stainless steel is limited, because it cannot be hardened - only an increase in strength through work hardening is possible.
Martensitic steel
These stainless steel grades are characterised by their alloy: the chromium content is always between 10.5 and 13.0%. Carbon may only account for a small proportion between 0.2 and 1.0%. The hardness of martensitic steel is determined by its carbon content.
Because martensitic steel is durable in chloride-free and moderately aggressive environments, it is popular for household items such as knives and for medical instruments. How resistant martensitic steel is to rust depends not only on its composition - the structure of the surfaces also has a major influence.
Ferritic steel
Characteristically, ferritic steel contains no nickel. The range of chromium contents is very wide and has a direct influence on material properties such as hardness. A relatively low chromium content means the steel is by no means rust-resistant and at best begins to rust more slowly. From a content of 17% chromium combined with 1% molybdenum, considerably higher corrosion resistance is achieved.
The very low carbon content, below 0.2%, means that ferritic steel in simple alloys is only moderately rust-resistant. On the other hand, ferritic steel is far more resistant in environments with a high chloride content.
Stainless steel - an indispensable material for industry
As you can see, there is no single stainless steel suited to all areas. The diversity of the different grades is the reason why industry cannot do without this material. It is used for building production plants; even high temperatures do not affect heat-resistant stainless grades, making the material suitable for furnace construction.
Chemicals and foodstuffs can be safely stored and transported in stainless steel containers. A major advantage of this high-quality steel is that it can be cleaned quickly and easily, which allows various substances and products to be moved in transport containers.
Alongside its material properties, availability has also contributed to stainless steel's importance. It is relatively cheap to produce and very durable. You will surely also have heard in private life that something is made of stainless steel so that it lasts longer and is of higher quality - which naturally also applies to steel parts on buildings or vehicles.
ESC Burg - your partner for steels of all kinds
Do you need stainless steel components for your private or business venture? Then we would be delighted to hear from you. We have been working with all grades of stainless steel for many years and offer various forms of processing.
So that we can supply you with the perfect product, it is important to us to be in direct contact with you. As we have shown, the stainless steel alloys differ considerably in their properties in some cases. For the longest possible use of your stainless steel sheet, the right selection matters - and we are happy to help you with that in a non-binding, free consultation.
Our promise: fast & precise
Thanks to efficient processes, we can handle your order in a short time. That begins with the quotation: you do not have to wait for it, because we can tell you the individually calculated price during the consultation itself. As soon as we have received your order, it goes into production.
There, we use processes automated as far as possible, so that we can manufacture and dispatch almost every order within 48 hours. Ongoing investment in our machines also guarantees that all cuts are made exactly to your specifications - including complex shapes, which we cut with computer support.
Our service for you
We support you with the experience and skill of three areas of our company:
- Cutting: here we bring every sheet to the dimensions you want. You also have a free choice of shapes.
- Forming: with large bending lines, we can produce various profiles for you. They are always absolutely uniform and also meet the highest visual standards.
- Surface treatment: we offer grinding, pickling and foil protection. Here too, we are happy to advise you without obligation.
Our goal is to supply you with a ready-to-install product in every stainless steel grade. We make sure that all you have left to do is the installation. ESC Burg delivers the stainless steel components for your project.
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