Stainless steels are made of 10 to 20% chromium as the main alloying element. They are highly popular due to their high corrosion resistance and appearance. Those with more than 11% chromium in their composition are approximately 200 times more resistant to corrosion as compared to carbon steels. Stainless steels are widely used in the form of plates, sheets, bars, tubes, and wires and have a high cost. In general, they are sub-divided into the following five categories on the basis of their crystalline structure and composition.

Austenitic Stainless Steels

They form the largest portion of the global stainless steel market and are widely used in food processing equipment, kitchen utensils, and piping. Austenitic stainless steels are non-magnetic and non-heat-treatable, and generally contain 18% chromium, 8% nickel, and less than 0.8% carbon.

Ferritic Stainless Steels

Ferritic steels contain trace amounts of nickel, 12-17% of chromium, less than 0.1% carbon, and molybdenum, aluminum, or titanium in small quantities. They are tough, strong, and magnetic and can be further strengthened by cold working.

Martensitic Stainless Steels

Martensitic stainless steels contain 11-17% chromium, less than 0.4% nickel, and up to 1.2% carbon. They are fabricated using techniques requiring final heat treatment. Martensitic stainless steels are less resistant to corrosion when compared to their austenitic counterparts.These magnetic and heat-treatable steels are used in knives and cutting tools, as well as dental and surgical equipment. Grade 410 is a basic general-purpose hardenable martensitic stainless steel for highly stressed requirements, providing good corrosion resistance.  Their operating temperatures are often affected by their loss of strength at high temperatures, due to over-tempering and loss of ductility at sub-zero temperatures. Quenching and tempering can harden grade 410 steels while their corrosion resistance can be further enhanced by hardening, tempering and polishing. 410 is a very common grade used in many industries such as aerospace, power generation, and general industry. Generally used for applications requiring mild corrosion, heat resistance and high strength and ductility. Indicative examples include steam / gas turbine blades and buckets, bushings, valve components, fasteners, nuclear reactor control rod mechanisms, petrochemical equipment and machine parts.

Duplex Stainless Steels

This type of stainless contains a combination of ferritic and austenitic structures in their crystal structure. DSS materials are weldable, corrosion-resistant, and possess high strength.

Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steels

Comprised of 17% chromium and 4% nickel with additional small amounts of aluminum, copper, and niobium. This category includes a variety of hardened stainless steels used in engine components and nuclear waste casks.

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