Stainless steel strips are different from other types of steels materials since it is made up of nickel, chromium and other elements which make it resistant to corrosion.
There exists a huge variation amount having more than 100 unique grades available.
Majority of the grades are divided into five categories: Austenitic stainless steel, Ferritic stainless steel strips, Martensitic stainless steel strips, Austenitic-ferritic (duplex) stainless steel strips and Precipitation-hardening stainless alloys strips.
These stainless steel types comprises of a unique metallurgical features. These types possess different weaknesses and strengths in applications.
In this article, we will be looking at the different types of stainless steel strips and what sets them apart from other stainless steel varieties.
Let’s keep reading.
Austenitic stainless steel strips is made up of austenitic microstructure.
It means the austenitic stainless steel strips cells are in cubic shape with a single atom situated at the each cube’s corner and another at the center.
This is referred to as face-centered crystal structure in crystallography.
The group comprises of the most popular stainless steel types.
Austenitic stainless steel strip when compared to other stainless steel types contains a high chromium, nickel, and molybdenum content.
Well known for their high strength, malleability and corrosion resistance levels, austenitic stainless steel strip are very versatile hence, can be used in several applications.
Stainless steel strip is austenitic when steel is alloyed with enough nitrogen, nickel and or manganese to help in keeping its microstructure at different temperature ranges.
The grades in austenitic stainless steel strip are non-magnetic and can be hardened using cold working.
Austenitic stainless steel strips have high weld ability. They perform well at high temperatures and are very hygienic hence can be cleaned with ease. They also have excellent corrosion resistance.
High amount of chromium is always included during austenitic stainless steel strips production. All the items produced from austenitic stainless steel strips are resistant to corrosion and non-magnetic.
Austenitic stainless steel strips is the most popular type of stainless steel and it can be divided into two series:
- The 200 series (201 stainless steel strip, 202 stainless steel strip, etc.)
- The 300 series (301 stainless steel strip, 304 stainless steel strip, etc.)
Ferritic Stainless Steel Strips
Ferritic stainless steel strips is the second most popular stainless steel strip type after the austenitic stainless steel strips.
All the items produced from this stainless steel type can be hardened using cold forming process and cost less due to the low amount of nickel in it.
Ferritic stainless steel strips contains more than 12% chromium with the carbon levels below 20%.
Its molecular grain structure and chemical composition makes it different from other stainless steel strip types. By heat treatment, ferritic stainless steel is non-hardenable and it is slightly hardenable by cold rolling process.
Some of the popular ferritic stainless steel strips types are:
- 439 Stainless Steel Strip
- 430 Stainless Steel Strip
- 446 Stainless Steel Strip
- 430LI Stainless Steel Strip
- 434 Stainless Steel Strip
- 444 Stainless Steel Strip
Martensitic Stainless Steel Strips
Martensitic stainless steel strips are stainless steel strip types that contain more chromium with no nickel in it.
It can either be a low carbon or high carbon steel. It also contains 17% chromium, 12% iron and 0.10% carbon.
Wear resistance and mechanical properties are some of the outstanding properties of Martensitic stainless steel.
The Martensitic stainless steel strip crystal structure is body-centered cubic structure. Every cube corner contains atoms and there is a single atom at the center of the cube.
It is a ferromagnetic stainless steel strip type which is less resistant to corrosion and can be hardened using heat treatment.
The common Martensitic stainless steel strip grades include:
- Grade 410 stainless steel strip
- Grade 420 stainless steel strip (420J2 stainless steel strip)
- Grade 440 stainless steel strip
Austenitic-Ferritic (Duplex) Stainless Steel Strips
An Austenitic-Ferritic (Duplex) stainless steel strip refers to a stainless steel type that comprises of ferritic and austenitic in equal proportions.
It is more resistant to corrosion and stronger than other stainless steel types.
Despite being more ductile than the ferritic stainless steel, it is less ductile than the austenitic stainless steels.
This stainless steel type is very popular in demanding applications due to their high mechanical properties, high resistance to corrosion levels and their strength.
Austenitic-Ferritic (Duplex) stainless steel strip is very popular in gas and oil industries, architecture industry, energy and water industry, chemical engineering industry and in tunnel, bridges, piers and seawalls construction.
The common Austenitic-Ferritic (Duplex) stainless steel strip grades include:
- Super Duplex Steel
- Lean Duplex Grades
- Duplex 2507 Stainless Steel Strip
- Duplex 2205 Stainless Steel Strip
- Zeron 100 Stainless Steel
Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steel Strips
Precipitation hardening stainless steel strips resemble nickel-based alloys and other stainless steel strips.
However, they have smaller aluminum, titanium, copper and phosphorus additions.
After creation of precipitation hardening stainless steel strips part, an age-hardening treatment is given where the elements precipitate as hard intermetallic compounds that will increase the strength and hardness.
Four main operations are needed to help in precipitation-hardenable parts production.
The first procedure is annealed strip.
The second step is cold working at room temperature.
The third step is that is formation, blanking and drawing of the part.
The last step is age hardening of the formed parts with the needed hardness and strength.
The common precipitation hardening stainless steel strips grades include:
Conclusion
When in the market for a reliable and experienced stainless steel strips supplier, you can always count on HZW.
Boasting of several years of experience in the stainless steel strips and special alloys strips fabrication industry, we have produced several high quality stainless steel materials for our clients.
We have an experienced team that will offer you all the information you need about stainless steel strips grades to help you in choosing the most appropriate type for a particular application.
It does not matter what your requirements or needs are, we have the capability and materials that will meet all your metal fabrication needs.
Feel free to reach us via email to speak to one of our sales person about your upcoming stainless steel strip project.