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)