What?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s the Difference between Steel and Stainless Steel?

Stainless steel features

In metallurgy, the product known as stainless steel is also known as inox steel, or just inox. It is defined as a steel alloy that contains a minimum of eleven percent chromium content by mass. Stainless steel has the feature of not staining, corroding or rusting near as easily as ordinary steel. The name stainless comes from the meaning that it stains less than normal steel, not that it is stainless or stain proof. This handy metal is also called corrosion resistant steel, or CRES when the alloy type and grade are not set out in detail. This is especially true in the aviation industry. There are many grades and surface finishes available for stainless steel. This makes the material able to be suited to the environment it will be used in. Very common uses of stainless steel are cutlery and watch parts.

Stainless vs. carbon

Stainless steel differs from carbon steel specifically by the amount of chromium present in the metal. Carbon steel will rust when it is exposed to air and moisture. This film of rust is an active chemical and it will accelerate the corrosion process by producing even more iron oxide. Stainless steels of many grades have enough chromium present in the material that the metal has a passive film of chromium oxide. This will prevent any further surface corrosion and blocks the corrosion from spreading through the surface, into the internal structure of the metal.

Stainless versatility

Stainless steel?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s ability to resist staining and corrosion makes it low maintenance and depending on the grade, it can be quite low cost. This makes it a fantastic material for a multitude of commercial applications. While there are 150 grades of stainless steel, fifteen of them are the most common. These grades are used in cookware, cutlery, hardware, surgical instruments and major appliances, as well as automobile, marine, aerospace and many other applications.