I. 200 Series
The 200 series consists of chromium-nickel-manganese austenitic stainless steels, with common grades including:
201 Stainless Steel: Offers moderate corrosion resistance at a relatively low cost. It is often used for decorative or structural purposes where high corrosion resistance is not critical, such as indoor decorative pipes.
202 Stainless Steel: Its corrosion resistance and performance are intermediate between 201 and 304, making it suitable for architectural decorative components and less demanding containers.
II. 300 Series
The 300 series comprises chromium-nickel austenitic stainless steels, with common grades as follows:
301 Stainless Steel: Known for good ductility, it is suitable for forming products and can be work-hardened quickly through mechanical processing. It exhibits better wear resistance and fatigue strength compared to 304, commonly used in springs, steel structures, and wheel covers.
302 Stainless Steel: Similar corrosion resistance to 304 but with a higher carbon content, providing better strength.
303 Stainless Steel: Enhanced machinability due to the addition of a small amount of sulfur and phosphorus, making it easier to cut than 304.
304 Stainless Steel: The most widely used grade, known as 18/8 stainless steel (18% chromium and 8% nickel). It is used in corrosion-resistant containers, utensils, furniture, railings, medical instruments, and some smartphone frames. It is non-magnetic and cannot be hardened through heat treatment.
304L Stainless Steel: Similar to 304 but with lower carbon content, offering better corrosion resistance and ease of heat treatment, though with slightly lower mechanical properties. It is suitable for welded structures and products not requiring heat treatment.
304N Stainless Steel: Similar to 304 but nitrogen-enhanced to improve strength.
309 Stainless Steel: Offers better heat resistance compared to 304.
309S Stainless Steel: Contains higher chromium and nickel, resulting in excellent heat and oxidation resistance, often used in heat exchangers, boiler components, and jet engines.
310S Stainless Steel: Contains the highest amounts of chromium and nickel, providing the best heat and oxidation resistance, suitable for heat exchangers, boiler components, and motor equipment.
316 Stainless Steel: The second most widely used stainless steel after 304, primarily used in the food industry and surgical instruments. The addition of molybdenum provides enhanced corrosion resistance, particularly in chemical and marine environments.
316L Stainless Steel: Low carbon content offers better corrosion resistance and ease of heat treatment, commonly used in chemical processing equipment, nuclear power generators, and refrigerant storage.
321 Stainless Steel: Similar to 304 but with added titanium to reduce the risk of weld corrosion, suitable for welding equipment, steam pipes, and aerospace parts.
347 Stainless Steel: Contains stabilized niobium, making it suitable for welding aircraft parts and chemical equipment.
III. Other Common Grades
1Cr18Ni9Ti Austenitic Stainless Steel: Requires specific heat treatment, such as solution treatment at 920-1150°C followed by rapid cooling. Stabilization treatment can be performed depending on client requirements.
0Cr18Ni16Mo5 Austenitic Stainless Steel: Suitable for manufacturing heat exchangers and equipment that handle chloride ion solutions, acetic acid, phosphoric acid, and bleaching devices.
00Cr20Ni25Mo4.5Cu Austenitic Stainless Steel: A low-carbon, high-nickel-chromium austenitic stainless steel with excellent corrosion resistance, particularly in non-oxidizing acids.
254SMO (S31254) Austenitic Stainless Steel: Due to its high molybdenum content, it offers exceptional resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion, designed for environments containing halides, and demonstrates good resistance to uniform corrosion.
1.4529 (N08926) Super Austenitic Stainless Steel: Typically contains 14.0-18.0% chromium and 24.0-26.0% nickel.
253MA Austenitic Stainless Steel: A heat-resistant austenitic stainless steel designed for applications requiring high creep strength and good corrosion resistance, with balanced chemical composition for optimal performance at temperatures between 850-1100°C.