Considerations When Choosing Stainless Steel Grades

Stainless Steel Grades

With so many different
Whether you are pondering the most common

• Austenitic &#; These make up 70% of total worldwide stainless steel production.
  • 200 series
  • 303
  • 304 & 304L
  • 316
  • 316L
• Ferritic &#; Highly corrosion resistant but less durable than austenitic stainless steel grades.
  • 409
  • 416
  • 430
  • 439
• Martensitic &#; Extremely strong and tough.
  • 410
  • 440C
• Precipitation-Hardening Martensitic &#; Extreme corrosion resistance.
  • 17-4
  • 15-5
• Duplex &#; Mixed microstructure of austenite and ferrite.

Consideration Factors When Choosing Stainless Steel Grades

With so many different grades of stainless steel to choose from, it can be challenging to know which is best for your unique specifications. However, understanding the properties and characteristics of some of the more common stainless steel alloys may make the decision more accessible than you think. Some of the considerations that should be taken into account when choosing your stainless steel grade include the following:

Corrosion Resistance

It is commonly understood that Stainless steel is well-regarded for its corrosion resistant properties. However, not all stainless steel alloys maintain the same levels of corrosion resistance. Austenitic stainless steel, such as 316, offers the highest level due to the presence of chromium alloys. Martensitic and ferritic stainless steel grades are the less expensive options that still provide good corrosion resistance.
Heat treatment will also affect how certain stainless steels respond. Martensitic alloys may be the best choice if your project requires heat treatment and enhanced corrosion resistance. Since they don&#;t harden, austenitic and ferritic steels do not provide the best options for heat treatment.
The 300 series has superior corrosion resistance and is easy to fabricate. They are used predominantly in the automotive, aerospace, and construction industries.

Operating Environment

Whether it&#;s temperature, low pH, stressors, or crevice corrosion, the operating environment of the stainless steel will affect its overall performance. The best all-around performing stainless steel alloys are 304 and 316. They provide the best strength, toughness, and corrosion resistance across a broad temperature range. Type 316 has molybdenum which resists chloride ions associated with marine and chemical applications.

Strength & Ductility

Stainless steel alloys containing chromium and nickel provide increased strength and ductility. Coupled with enhanced corrosion resistance characteristics, stainless steel grades such as 420 are hardened and stress relieved, providing nearly triple the tensile strength of 304. Stainless steel grades with high tensile strength tend to be a better fit for heavy-duty applications involving heavy loads.

Process Temperatures

One of the easiest ways to identify a stainless steel grade is by looking at its maximum use temperature or melting point. If a specific stainless steel grade does not maintain the melting point that your specifications require, then it can be easily eliminated from the potential candidate pool. Since heat-intensive processes are more likely to push the limits of a stainless steel alloy&#;s temperature tolerance, it is essential to understand each alloy&#;s heat treatment or temperature-based sterilization process.

Weldability & Formability

Stainless Steel features such as weldability and formability should also be considered before choosing the appropriate alloy for your project. Lower-end stainless steel grades tend to crack or corrode when welded. Austenitic alloys provide the best weldability. Alloy 304L offers lower carbon, and 347 stainless steel provides a niobium stabilizer that prevents cracking and corrosion. Stainless steel grades 430 and 439 also offer good weldability, while martensitic alloys should be avoided if welding is necessary.
Applications that require good formability need an austenitic grade of stainless steel, such as 304, or a ferritic grade, like 430. Martensitic grades, like 410, should not be considered since they&#;re brittle and weak.

Choosing the Right Stainless Steel Grade for Your Project

With many available options, the stainless steel alloy best suited for your project will depend on multiple factors. Understanding your project&#;s specifications and requirements will automatically eliminate the stainless steel grades that do not meet those standards. From there, it is ultimately about preference and the features of most significant interest to you. Research some of the more popular

The IMS Difference

What separates IMS from other metals companies? With an abundance of metal options and customer service that is second to none, IMS has you covered with the following service advantages:

• Next-day delivery of processed material via our trucks
• Same-day pick-up in Will-Call
• No minimum purchase
• Support of Just-in-Time manufacturing processes
• Salespeople that act as an extension of your purchasing department (we will get any metal products you need)
• Material management (stocking and delivery on a scheduled basis)
• Credit lines with good terms
• Knowledgeable staff that knows metal

 
Seven stores are open six days a week (check each location for specific times)

Delivering Premium Stainless Steel Grades Throughout Southern CA, Arizona & Nevada

 

Industrial Metal Supply is your trusted supplier of high-quality stainless steel grades, metal , and metalworking accessories , including rust-prevention products. Get in touch with our sales team for world-class metal products and services today.

Want more information on automotive steel grades? Feel free to contact us.

Stainless steel alloys are known for their decorative appeal and enhanced corrosion resistance, making them some of the most sought-after metal alloys in existence. Providing an abundance of beneficial qualities that cannot be matched by any other metal, there are several different types of stainless steel grades that are used for countless commercial and industrial applications.With so many different stainless steel grades to choose from, finding the best option for your specific requirements can feel daunting. Luckily, with some research and a basic understanding of your project&#;s needs, the correct stainless steel grade is never far from reach.Whether you are pondering the most common stainless steel grades of 304, 314, 316, or perhaps another alloy, several considerations should be met before making a final decision. The following is a list of some of the more common stainless steel alloys that are used throughout the world:With so many different grades of stainless steel to choose from, it can be challenging to know which is best for your unique specifications. However, understanding the properties and characteristics of some of the more common stainless steel alloys may make the decision more accessible than you think. Some of the considerations that should be taken into account when choosing your stainless steel grade include the following:It is commonly understood that Stainless steel is well-regarded for its corrosion resistant properties. However, not all stainless steel alloys maintain the same levels of corrosion resistance. Austenitic stainless steel, such as 316, offers the highest level due to the presence of chromium alloys. Martensitic and ferritic stainless steel grades are the less expensive options that still provide good corrosion resistance.Heat treatment will also affect how certain stainless steels respond. Martensitic alloys may be the best choice if your project requires heat treatment and enhanced corrosion resistance. Since they don&#;t harden, austenitic and ferritic steels do not provide the best options for heat treatment.The 300 series has superior corrosion resistance and is easy to fabricate. They are used predominantly in the automotive, aerospace, and construction industries.Whether it&#;s temperature, low pH, stressors, or crevice corrosion, the operating environment of the stainless steel will affect its overall performance. The best all-around performing stainless steel alloys are 304 and 316. They provide the best strength, toughness, and corrosion resistance across a broad temperature range. Type 316 has molybdenum which resists chloride ions associated with marine and chemical applications.Stainless steel alloys containing chromium and nickel provide increased strength and ductility. Coupled with enhanced corrosion resistance characteristics, stainless steel grades such as 420 are hardened and stress relieved, providing nearly triple the tensile strength of 304. Stainless steel grades with high tensile strength tend to be a better fit for heavy-duty applications involving heavy loads.One of the easiest ways to identify a stainless steel grade is by looking at its maximum use temperature or melting point. If a specific stainless steel grade does not maintain the melting point that your specifications require, then it can be easily eliminated from the potential candidate pool. Since heat-intensive processes are more likely to push the limits of a stainless steel alloy&#;s temperature tolerance, it is essential to understand each alloy&#;s heat treatment or temperature-based sterilization process.Stainless Steel features such as weldability and formability should also be considered before choosing the appropriate alloy for your project. Lower-end stainless steel grades tend to crack or corrode when welded. Austenitic alloys provide the best weldability. Alloy 304L offers lower carbon, and 347 stainless steel provides a niobium stabilizer that prevents cracking and corrosion. Stainless steel grades 430 and 439 also offer good weldability, while martensitic alloys should be avoided if welding is necessary.Applications that require good formability need an austenitic grade of stainless steel, such as 304, or a ferritic grade, like 430. Martensitic grades, like 410, should not be considered since they&#;re brittle and weak.With many available options, the stainless steel alloy best suited for your project will depend on multiple factors. Understanding your project&#;s specifications and requirements will automatically eliminate the stainless steel grades that do not meet those standards. From there, it is ultimately about preference and the features of most significant interest to you. Research some of the more popular stainless steel grades, and experiment until you find the one that provides the benefits you need.What separates IMS from other metals companies? With an abundance of metal options and customer service that is second to none, IMS has you covered with the following service advantages:Seven stores are open six days a week (check each location for specific times)

If you work in the steel industry, you understand that there are all sorts of varieties of steel used for a myriad of applications. Because of these varying applications and products, steel&#;s HARDNESS (as measured on the ROCKWELL SCALE) should fit the needs of the finished product. To find the best fit for the job, steel is generally categorized into four main grades of steel for buyers to purchase. These grades are determined by the overall hardness of the steel and manufacturers can select the grades based on which type of product and application the steel will be used for.

Commercial Steel (CS/CQ)

Typical Rb range 40-65

Commercial Steel represents the most common quality of steel that is mainly used for flat applications. Buyers looking for steel that requires little to no draw or bend would consider commercial steel a good option. Drawability is essentially the formability or structural softness of steel. If you were to think of bending or shaping steel, the harder that steel is (or the higher the Rockwell) the sturdier the steel will be. Many commercial products used in the automotive and furniture industry are manufactured from commercial grade steel.

Drawing Steel (DS)  Typical Rb range 35/50

As you&#;d imagine, drawing steel is regarded as having a higher drawability than commercial grades. Drawing steel is a softer steel that typically contains less than .05 percent carbon. If a customer&#;s product needed the ability to be moderately bent or shaped in the manufacturing process, then drawing would be a suitable choice.

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Deep Drawing Steel (DDS)  Typical Rb range 25/40

Deep drawing steel is reserved for fairly severe drawing applications. An example of deep drawing steel would be the softness of an aluminum can and how easily formable it is. The process of deep drawing is to radically draw into a sheet metal blank with a forming die through a fast and hard punch or hit made by a machine. This transforms the shape through material retention. The process is considered &#;deep drawing&#; when the depth of the part that&#;s drawn exceeds its diameter. Deep drawing steel should be used for these deep drawing applications.

Extra Deep Drawing Steel (EDDS)  Typical Rb range 15/30

For the last of the four common steel grades, there is extra deep drawing steel. This grade is for really severe drawing applications. EDDS really only allows for the product to be hit with a one or two hit draw. If it is hit more than that, then issues will be had with splitting of the steel. This is why it&#;s important for customers not to order extra deep drawing steel if they will be sending it through several different hits because it will fail.

How Hascall Steel Determines the Grades

As stated above, the determining factor in identifying steel grades is hardness. Steel&#;s hardness is measured using the Rockwell scale; and the softer steels are represented by LOWER Rockwell numbers.

Rb&#;s are not the only determining factor of steel, chemistries, physicals, annealing cycles, etc. all play an important role in making various grades of steel.  But a simple Rb test can help guide you in determining what you may need.   

When Hascall Steel receives a shipment of steel from our suppliers, our own in-house laboratory accurately tests the mechanical properties to determine both the Rockwell and the tensile, yield, and elongation (TYE). This gives us trustworthy data, and allows us to confirm Rockwell results against our purchase order documents. Having an in-house lab at Hascall Steel is an advantage to us in our pursuit of knowing our material, and accurately matching our inventory to our customers grade requirements.

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