Steel Definition
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is defined by the following characteristics:
Chrome > 10.5 %
Nickel < 30 %
The following types of stainless steels are available:
Austenitic
Ferritic
Martensitic
Duplex grades
Austenitic Stainless Steel
300 Series – Chromium-Nickel alloys
Main grades: 304, 304L, 316, 316L, 321, 310, 347
Main applications: chemical industry (heat exchangers, pressure vessels, tanks, etc.), food processing industry, domestic appliances, building and construction
200 Series – Chromium-Nickel Manganese alloys
Main grades: 201, 202
Main applications: kitchen utensils, cutlery, domestic appliances, ornamental tubes, structural tubes
Ferritic Stainless Steel
Main grades: 409, 430, 441, 444, 445
Main applications: automotive exhaust systems, automotive trim, hot water tanks, household appliances, utensils
Martensitic Stainless Steel
Main grades: 420, 410, 440
Main applications: cutlery, knife blades, scissors, surgical instruments
Duplex-Austenitic-Ferritic Stainless Steel
Main grades: Regular Duplex (2205), Super-Duplex (2507), Lean-Duplex (2304, LDX 2101)
Main applications: chemical tanks, marine applications, petrochemical plants, desalination plants, heat exchangers, pulp & paper machines, chemical tanks, bridges, food tanks
Nickel Alloys
Nickel Alloys can be divided into 4 Alloy types:
High Performance Alloys (HPA)
Heat Resistant Alloys
Corrosion Resistant Alloys
Electronic Alloys
High Performance Alloys
Main alloys: A286, Inconel 718, Nimonic 80A, Inconel 725, Hastelloy X
Main applications: jet engines, gas turbines, engine valves, downhole safety components in oil & gas industry
Heat Resistant Alloys
Main alloys: 330, 600, 601, 800, 800H, 800HT, 825
Main applications: furnace components, heat shields, thermal process industry, oil & gas industry
Corrosion Resistant Alloys
Main alloys: Alloy 625, Alloy 200, Monel 400, K500, Incoloy 925
Main applications: chemical process equipment, structural parts, battery casings, oil & gas industry, marine components
Electronic Alloys
Main alloys: Ni 205, NiFe 36, NiFe 42, NiCr 80-20
Main applications: lead frames, shadow masks, heating elements, spark plugs, glass seals
Alloy Tool Steels
There are 4 types of Alloy Tool Steels:
Hot Working Tool Steels (HWTS)
Cold Working Tool Steels (CWTS)
Plastic Mould Steels (PMS)
High Speed Steels (HSS)
Hot Working Tool Steels
Main grades: H13, H11, H10
Main applications: extrusion tools, mandrels, die casting tools, general hot forming tools
Cold Working Tool Steels
Main grades: D2, D3, O1, O2, A2
Main applications: stamping dies, cutting tools, blanking tools, punching tools, coining tools, chipless forming tools, threading & cold shearing tools
Plastic Mould Steels
Main grades: P20, P20+Ni, P21, 420
Main applications: automotive moulds, moulds for domestic appliances, electronic moulds, various plastic components incl. PET bottles
High Speed Steels
Main grades: M2, M7, M35, M42, M48
Main applications: rotating metal cutting tools (e.g. drills, milling tools, saw blades, broaches)
