Stainless steel is a low-carbon that contains chromium and nickel. Chromium gives steel its unique stainless and corrosion resistance characteristics. Stainless steel has been used since 1915 due its unique mechanical and corrosion resistance features. There are many families of stainless steel that are designed for different uses and applications. The selection of a given grade of stainless steel must meet certain corrosion resistance requirements. To achieve the overall service performance requirement, it is also important to consider the physical or mechanical properties of the alloy. Here are some of the commonly used grades of Flat Stainless Steel bars.
304/ 304L Stainless Steel Bars
304/ 304L stainless steel bars are a part of the austenitic family of stainless steel. They have good welding and resistance corrosion characteristics. Small amounts of ferrite are added to these steel bars to prevent cracking susceptibility during welding. They respond well to hardening due their good low-temperature features. 304/ 304L Stainless steel bars are used in food processing plants, heat exchangers, chemical processing vessels among other applications.
310/ 310S Stainless Steel Bars
Type 310/ 310S stainless steel can withstand high temperatures. They have a great resistance to creep deformation and oxidation. Type 310/ 310S stainless steels have forming capabilities that are similar to that of type 304. They are non-magnetic and cannot be hardened by heat treatment. Type 310/310S stainless steels are used in chemical processing, food processing and heavy machinery.
316/ 316L Stainless Steel
Type 316/ 316L stainless steels have extra low-carbon content. The low carbon content is vital for welding applications where carbide precipitation is key. They contain higher levels of Nickel than type 304 making them have better corrosion resistance capabilities. Like most austenitic steels, type 316/ 316L stainless steels can be formed into most shapes. They are non-magnetic alloys that cannot be hardened by heat treatment. Re-annealing is essential before each cold forming application. Typical uses of type 316/316L flat stainless steels include welding applications, pharmaceutical processing equipment and in chemical industries.
There are other types of Flat Stainless Steel bars, such as types 410, 430 and 321. For more additional details about the different types and grades of flat stainless steels, and how to contact an established metal supplier, please go to Tomametalsinc.com. You can also connect them on Facebook for more updates.
