Stainless steel
Stainless steel is a steel with at least 10.5 % chromium, which forms a passive oxide layer that protects the metal from corrosion. Here are all the stainless families Dustre supplies, with the data sheet of each alloy.
Stainless steel: families Dustre supplies
Forms: Bar, Plate, Forging and flange, Casting, Wire, Pipe, Fitting. Each family lists its alloys, with the datasheet of each one.
Austenitic stainless steels
Austenitic stainless 304L, 316L, 316Ti, 317L, 321, 347, 310S, Nitronic 50 and F138 as bar and forging: standards, composition, properties and applications. 10 alloys
Super austenitic stainless steels
Super austenitic stainless 904L, 254 SMO (F44), Alloy 20 and Alloy 28 as bar and forging: PREN, ASTM standards, composition and uses in acids and seawater. 4 alloys
Duplex and super duplex stainless steel
Duplex 2205/F51/F60 and super duplex 2507/F53 and Zeron 100/F55 bar and forgings: PREN, ASTM A182 and A276, composition, properties and oil and gas uses. 6 alloys
Martensitic and ferritic stainless steels
Martensitic (410, 420, 431, F6NM) and ferritic (430, 446) stainless: composition, heat treatment, properties and uses in shafts, valves and furnaces. 5 alloys
Precipitation hardening (PH) alloys
Precipitation hardening alloys 17-4PH, 15-5PH, 17-7PH, A-286 and maraging: H900 to H1150 conditions, ASTM A564 and AMS standards, properties and applications. 5 alloys
Did not find the alloy? See all materials or ask the technical team.
About stainless steel
Stainless steel is an alloy of iron, chromium and, in most families, nickel. Chromium reacts with the oxygen in the air and forms a thin, adherent chromium oxide film; if the surface is scratched, the film rebuilds itself. It is this passive layer, not the metal itself, that resists corrosion.
The families are divided by microstructure: austenitic (304, 316L, 321, 347, 904L), the most used, non-magnetic and easy to weld; ferritic and martensitic (410, 420, 430, 431), magnetic, with less nickel and more hardness; duplex and super duplex (2205, F51, F53, F55), with twice the strength and better behavior in chlorides; and precipitation-hardening grades (17-4PH, 15-5PH, 17-7PH), for high strength with good machinability.
The choice depends on the medium: chlorides call for molybdenum (316L, 317L, duplex); reducing acids call for more nickel (904L, Alloy 20); high temperature calls for 310, 321 or 347; implants require F138. The PREN calculator and the steel-by-corrosive-medium guide help compare.
See also
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 304 and 316L?
316L has 2 to 3 % molybdenum, which improves resistance to chlorides (seawater, brine, chemical processes). 304 is adequate for atmosphere, food and fresh water. In both, the "L" means low carbon, for welding without sensitization.
Is stainless steel magnetic?
It depends on the family. Austenitics (304, 316L) are not magnetic in the solution-annealed condition; ferritics, martensitics and duplex are. A magnet does not tell whether the material is stainless, only the family.
In which forms does Dustre supply stainless?
Round, square and flat bar, plate, pipe, open-die forgings (disc, ring, shaft, flange) and machined parts to drawing, with EN 10204 3.1 certificate.