Stainless Steel
This is an old revision of this page, as edited by WesleyS (talk | contribs) at 14:34, December 8, 2008. It may differ significantly from current revision.
Stainless Steel is a type of alloy that combines iron with other elements, such as chromium, nickel, and molybdenum. It is known and used for its ability to resist oxidation. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of grades of stainless steel. Some of the more common grades are:
- 304 Stainless - Very common alloy used in utensils and many household items. Generally, 304 stainless will contain 7-9% nickel, 18-20% chromium, up to 2% manganese, and the balance of the material is iron (minus the impurities that turn up through use of cantaminated scrap metals and additions while melting).
- 316 Stainless - Also a common alloy. 316 stainless contains 9-11% nickel, 15-17% chromium, up to 2% manganese, and up to 2% molybdenum.
- 400 Series Chrome Steel - Contains various grades of stainless steel (410, 430, etc) that generally contain little to no nickel and varying amounts of chromium.