Stainless Steel
What is Stainless Steel?
Stainless steel is a group of ferrous alloys that contain a minimum of approximately 11% chromium, a composition that prevents the iron from rusting and also provides heat-resistant properties.
Type 303 Stainless Steel
Type 303 is a variety of the 18-8 austenitic stainless steel family containing an addition of sulphur for the purpose of improving machining and galling characteristics. Because of the presence of sulphur, it is inferior to the basic Type 304 in formability and corrosion resistance. Type 303 is used primarily when part production requires extensive machining operations such as automatic screw machines. Type 303 is non-magnetic when in the annealed condition, but becomes slightly magnetic when coldworked. Welding of Type 303 is not generally recommended.
Applications
Hardware parts, pump parts, motor shafts, gears, bushings, aircraft components, nuts & bolts and screws.
Requirements
Common specifications for this grade:
- ASTM A484
- ASTM A582
Shapes and Sizes
Peterson Steel supplies Type 303 stainless steel bar in a wide range of sizes. The shapes available for this grade include:
- Rounds
- Hexagons
Standard “Type 303 Grade” Chemical Composition
|
Carbon |
0.15 max |
|
Manganese |
2.0 max |
|
Phosphorus |
0.40 max |
|
Silicon |
1.0 max |
|
Chromium |
17.0-19.0 |
|
Nickel |
8.0-10.0 |
|
Sulfur |
0.15 min |
Type 304 Stainless Steel
Type 304 is an austenitic stainless steel, with a minimum of 18% chromium and 8% nickel. Type 304 has a maximum carbon of 0.08% and is the standard “18/8 stainless” that is commonly found in pans and cooking tools. Alloy 304 is the most versatile and widely used alloy in the stainless steel family. Ideal for a wide variety of home and commercial applications. Alloy 304 exhibits excellent corrosion resistance and has a high ease of fabrication, outstanding formability. The austenitic stainless steels are also considered to be the most weldable of the high-alloy steels and can be welded by all fusion and resistance welding processes.
Applications
Hardware parts, pump parts, motor shafts, gears, bushings, aircraft components, nuts & bolts and screws.
Requirements
Common specifications for this grade:
- ASTM A484
- ASTM A582
Shapes and Sizes
Peterson Steel supplies Type 304 stainless steel bar in a wide range of sizes. The shapes available for this grade include:
- Rounds
- Hexagons
Standard “Type 304 Grade” Chemical Composition
|
Carbon |
0.08 max |
|
Manganese |
2.0 max |
|
Phosphorus |
0.45 max |
|
Silicon |
1.0 max |
|
Chromium |
18.0-20.0 |
|
Nickel |
8.0-11.0 |
|
Silicon |
1.0 max |
|
Sulfur |
0.03 max |
Type 316 Stainless Steel
Type 316 is a molybdenum bearing austenitic chromium-nickel stainless and heat resisting steel. Type 316 has a maximum carbon of 0.08% and has superior corrosion resistance to other chromium-nickel steels when exposed to many types of chemical corrodents, as well as to marine atmospheres. This austenitic stainless steel is also considered to be the readily weldable by any of the conventional methods employed for austenitic stainless steels.
Applications
Hardware parts, pump parts, motor shafts, valve stems and valves, aircraft components, orthopedic appliances and culinary applications.
Requirements
Common specifications for this grade:
- ASTM A276
- ASTM A479
- ASTM A484
Shapes and Sizes
Peterson Steel supplies Type 316 stainless steel bar in a wide range of sizes. The shapes available for this grade include:
- Rounds
- Flats
- Squares
- Hexagons
Standard “Type 316 Grade” Chemical Composition
|
Carbon |
0.08 max |
|
Manganese |
2.0 max |
|
Phosphorus |
0.45 max |
|
Silicon |
1.0 max |
|
Chromium |
16.0-18.0 |
|
Molybdenum |
2.0 – 3.0 |
|
Nickel |
10.0 -14.0 |
|
Silicon |
1.0 max |
|
Sulfur |
0.03 max |
Type 416 Stainless Steel
Alloy 416 is a martensitic, free-machining, chromium steel alloy that is generally considered to be the first free-machining stainless steel. It has the highest machinability of any stainless steel at about 85% of that of a free-machining carbon steel. Martensitic stainless steels were designed to be hardenable by heat treatment and are also corrosion resistant. Although Alloy 416 and other martensitic stainless steels are not as corrosion resistant as austenitic or ferritic stainless steels, it still demonstrates good corrosion and oxidation resistance plus high strength in the hardened and tempered condition.
Applications
Hardware parts, automatic screw machine parts, pump parts, motor shafts, valve stems and valves.
Requirements
Common specifications for this grade:
- ASTM A484
- ASTM A582
Shapes and Sizes
Peterson Steel supplies Type 416 stainless steel bar in a wide range of sizes. The shapes available for this grade include:
- Rounds
- Flats
- Squares
- Hexagons
Standard “Type 416 Grade” Chemical Composition
|
Carbon |
0.15 max |
|
Manganese |
1.25 max |
|
Phosphorus |
0.06 max |
|
Silicon |
1.0 max |
|
Chromium |
12.0-14.0 |
|
Sulfur |
0.15 max |