Looking back at history, Steel has played a very important role during the Industrial Revolution to create stronger and better tools and parts of machinery like springs, pistons, levers, and many more.
A very famous quote by Jeff Koons-
‘I try to make pieces that are durable. One of the reasons that I work in Steel is durability.”
What is Stainless Steel?
Stainless steel is an alloy of Iron with a minimum of 10.5 % chromium. However, there are also other additives included in varying amounts in its composition to improve its corrosion resistance and enhance formability-
- Nickel
- Molybdenum
- Carbon
- Silicon
- Copper
- Sulfur
- Nitrogen
- Manganese
What are the Properties of Stainless Steel?
Corrosion resistance is the main advantage of stainless steel, but it certainly isn’t the only one. Stainless steel has the following properties too:
- Higher ductility
- Easily fabricated
- Strong and durable
- Aesthetically attractive
- Higher cryogenic toughness
- Higher work hardening rate
- Easy cleaned and maintained
- High and low-temperature resistant
- Long-lasting, with a low lifecycle cost
- Environmentally friendly and recyclable.
What are the Types of Stainless Steel?
There are over 100 grades of Stainless Steel but they all can be broadly divided into five major groups:
| Magnetic Response | Work Hardening Rate | Corrosion Resistance | Hardenable
|
Ductility | High Temperature Resistance | Low Temperature Resistance | Weldability | |
| Austenitic | Generally No | Very High | High | ByCold Work | Very High | Very High | Very High | Very High |
| Duplex | Yes
|
Medium
|
Very High
|
No | Medium | Low
|
Medium | High |
| Ferritic | Yes
|
Medium | Medium | No | Medium | High | Low
|
Low |
| Martensitic | Yes
|
Medium | Medium | Quench & Temper
|
Low | Low | Low
|
Low |
| Precipitation Hardening | Yes
|
Medium | Medium | Age Harden
|
Medium | Low | Low
|
High |
Source: Stainless Steel Grades and Families Explained, Unified Alloys
Which Industries Use Stainless Steel?
“Stainless Steel has made a remarkable contribution to the Evolution of Society at large.”
Stainless steel’s strength, resistance to corrosion, and low maintenance make it the ideal material for a wide range of applications. It also has a long-life cycle and is 100% recyclable.
Its more than 100 years now, the world is using Stainless steel in a variety of industries, the majority of them are listed below:
• Home Appliances
• Food Production
• Power Generation
• Offshore, and Ship Building
• Architecture, Building, and Construction
• Automotive Manufacturing, and Transportation
• Chemicals, Processing, and Oil & Gas Industries
• Pharmaceuticals & Medical Equipment Manufacturing
That is the forecast on the Global Demand of Stainless Steel?
Global Stainless-Steel Market Size was valued at USD 111.4 billion in 2019 in the year 2019.
It is expected that Global Stainless-Steel Market shall grow at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.3% and the market size will touch USD 182.2 billion by 2027, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc.
The world is experiencing a rise in usage of Stainless Steel because of its excellent properties which extend the service life and reduces the cycle cost.
Conclusion-
Stainless Steel- Durable, Versatile, and Resistant to Heat & Corrosion
Stainless Steel has proved to be very useful material since there is a grade of stainless steel available for every need. There is a continuous rise in worldwide demand across Industrial and Consumer Markets.
Also, Stainless Steel has shown significant results in sustainability which is making it even more popular worldwide.
If you are wondering from where to source stainless steel for your current or upcoming projects, Enggpro is the right choice. It is the best online platform to help you source the ideal products for your requirements from across the world.
