Stainless steel is a widely used alloy that comes in a wide variety of types to meet a variety of specialized needs. Common stainless steel models include 201, 202, 301, 304, 309s, 310s, 410 and 420, each with its own unique performance characteristics.
First, martensitic stainless steels, such as 301 and 410, possess excellent strength and hardness with good wear resistance due to their higher carbon content, however, corrosion resistance is relatively weak. They are typically used in scenarios that require high strength and wear resistance, such as cutting tools or heavy machinery.
Ferrite stainless steels, such as 304, exhibit excellent corrosion and oxidation resistance due to their high chromium content. Nonetheless, these steels have poor mechanical and process properties and are suitable for environments where high corrosion resistance is required, such as kitchen equipment and chemical equipment.
Austenitic stainless steels, such as 304L and 316L, are known for their excellent plasticity, toughness, weldability, and corrosion resistance, and are often non-magnetic, making them common in areas such as medical devices, food processing, and architectural decoration. These steels have excellent processing properties and are highly adaptable to the environment.
In addition, there are austenitic-ferritic duplex stainless steels and precipitation-hardening stainless steels, which combine the advantages of the two structures, with both good corrosion resistance and high strength and toughness, and are used in special applications where high strength and corrosion resistance are required, such as ships and chemical equipment.
Finally, stainless steel plates and strips for pressurized equipment, designed for high-pressure environments, have extremely high strength and pressure resistance, and are the material of choice for high-pressure piping and vessels.
Overall, the classification of stainless steel is rich and varied, each model has its unique properties, the choice of which stainless steel depends on the specific application needs and environmental conditions.