Different Types of Stainless Steel in Custom Steel Fabrication
Stainless steel is available in many formulations and each offers a unique melting point, tensile strength, and resistance to corrosion and oxidation. Custom steel fabrication allows you to choose the best grade of stainless steel for any application which is made easier if you understand your options.
To help you make the right choice, the following is a quick guide to the most common types and properties of stainless steel:
300 Series Austenitic Alloys
The 300 Series austenitic alloys are the most widely used type of stainless steel. Compared to other steel alloys, they offer higher resistance to corrosion due to their high chromium content. Generally, they are non-magnetic but can become magnetic after cold working.
Type 304 has high tensile strength. When it comes to corrosion resistance, Type 304 has 18-20% chromium content. It can also withstand operating temperatures of about 870 ˚C. These properties make it well suited for applications where contact with chemicals, fresh water, and food is required.
Type 316 has slightly lower tensile strength and working temperature. However, it can resist better against chlorides due to its 2-3% molybdenum content. Type 316 is preferred for applications that involve exposure to chlorides and other industrial solvents. Custom steel fabrication using Type 316 stainless steel offers food-grade material.
400 Series Ferritic Alloys
The second most widely used type of stainless steel is 400 Series ferritic alloys. They are all magnetic due to their ferritic structure. These groups of alloys can be hardened by cold working. Since they contain less nickel, ferritic stainless steels are less expensive compared to austenitic and duplex grades.
Type 430 can well resist nitric acid. Although its tensile strength of 450 MPa is lower than austenitic steels, it is still capable of many heavy-duty applications.
Type 434 has a tensile strength of 540 MPa — higher than grade 430 stainless. It also has a maximum working operation of 815˚C. This what makes grade 434 better than grade 430 and 316 stainless steel. It can also better resist pitting compared to grade 430 stainless steel.
Baseline offers custom steel fabrication to Toronto, GTA, and Durham region clients. We have served different industries and we work with different types of stainless steel to meet our client’s needs.
