The Difference between Stainless Steel VS Steel

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Steel and stainless steel are metal alloys. They are both made from a combination of two or more metals in order to obtain certain desired properties suitable for different functions or uses. Each metal is good for a particular application because of these properties. Knowing which type of material a tool, equipment or appliance is made from is very essential since it can help you determine its suitability in whichever use you want to put it to. Here is a look at the differences between steel and stainless steel.

 

Steel
Stainless Steel

Materials

Iron and other elements, primarily between 0.02% and 1.7% percent carbon.

Iron and other elements, contains 10.5% or more chromium.

Implication

Widely used in construction and other applications.

Widely used in construction, household items, etc.

Uses

Major component in buildings, infrastructure, tools, ships, automobiles, machines, appliances, and weapons.

Commonly used for cookware and cutlery, such as knives, forks, and spoons. Also used in household hardware, surgical instruments, major appliances, industrial equipment and as an automotive and aerospace structural alloy and construction material in large buildings.

Properties

High Tensile Strength.

High Tensile Strength.

High Resistance To Corrosion.

Cost

Low cost.

Expensive than steel.

Rust

Likely to rust.

Less likely to rust.

Types

  • Carbon steel - the most common type, but it must be painted or covered or it will rust
  • Galvanized steel - which is steel covered with zinc, to prevent rust.
  • Defined by its crystalline structure:
  • Austenitic, or 200 and 300 series - have an austenitic crystalline structure, which is a face-centered cubic crystal structure.
  • Ferritic stainless - better engineering properties than austenitic grades, but have reduced corrosion resistance.
  • Martensitic stainless steels - not as corrosion-resistant but are extremely strong and tough, as well as highly machinable, and can be hardened by heat treatment.
  • Duplex steel stainless steels -  have a mixed microstructure of austenite and ferrite.

Stainless steel machining is an art form. When you need top quality stainless steel machining, you need Worthy Hardware. Stainless Steels will always machine slower than steel, but what you lose in machinability you gain in durability. Below you will find a list of the different types of stainless steels that we specialize in. Remember that stainless steels have different amounts of chromium added to them in order to resist rust, but that this makes them generally less tough than regular steel.

300 Series – Austenitic iron-chromium-nickel alloys.
Type 301 – Highly ductile, for formed products. Fast hardening while is being machined.
Type 303 – Free machining version of 304 via addition of sulfur.
Type 304 – Very popular; also referred as 18/8 stainless steel.
Type 316 – Very common and highly used by the sea industry due to its resistance to saltwater.
400 Series – Ferritic and martensitic alloys.
Type 410 – Martensitic (high-strength iron/chromium).
Type 420 – Known as “surgical steel”.
Type 430 – Used in vehicle trims, decorative.
Type 440 – Great cutlery quality, better edge retention due to its high carbon content.
600 Series – Martensitic precipitation hardening alloys.
Type 630 – Better known as 17-4PH.


 

Worthy Hardware is a CNC manufacturing and sheet metal fabrication company, including CNC machining services, CNC milling services, CNC turning services, laser cutting services and stamping services. Call us +86-76989919645 or email us [email protected] for more discounts for your projects.

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