stainless steel

stainless steel
alloy steel containing 12 percent or more chromium, so as to be resistant to rust and attack from various chemicals. Also called stainless.
[1915-20]

* * *

Any of a family of alloy steels usually containing 10–30% chromium.

The presence of chromium, together with low carbon content, gives remarkable resistance to corrosion and heat. Other elements, such as nickel, molybdenum, titanium, aluminum, niobium, copper, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, and selenium, may be added to increase corrosion resistance to specific environments, enhance resistance to oxidation (see oxidation-reduction), and impart special characteristics.

* * *

      any one of a family of alloy steels usually containing 10 to 30 percent chromium. In conjunction with low carbon contents, chromium imparts remarkable resistance to corrosion and heat. Other elements such as nickel, molybdenum, titanium, aluminum, niobium, copper, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, and selenium may be added to increase corrosion resistance to specific environments, enhance oxidation resistance, and impart special characteristics.

      Most stainless steels are first melted in electric-arc or basic oxygen furnaces and subsequently refined in another steelmaking vessel, mainly to lower the carbon content. In the argon-oxygen decarburization process, a mixture of oxygen and argon gas is injected into the liquid steel. By varying the ratio of oxygen and argon, it is possible to remove carbon to controlled levels by oxidizing it to carbon monoxide without also oxidizing and losing expensive chromium. Thus, cheaper raw materials, such as high-carbon ferrochromium, may be used in the initial melting operation.

      There are three major groups in the family of stainless steels: austenitic, ferritic, and martensitic. Austenitic steels, which contain 16 to 26 percent chromium and up to 35 percent nickel, usually have the highest corrosion resistance. They are not hardenable by heat treatment and are nonmagnetic. The most common type is the 18/8, or 304, grade, which contains 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel. Typical applications include aircraft and the dairy and food-processing industries. Standard ferritic steels contain 10.5 to 27 percent chromium and are nickel-free; because of their low carbon content (less than 0.2 percent), they are not hardenable by heat treatment and have less critical anticorrosion applications, such as architectural and auto trim. Martensitic steels typically contain 11.5 to 18 percent chromium and up to 1.2 percent carbon with nickel sometimes added. They are hardenable by heat treatment, have modest corrosion resistance, and are employed in cutlery, surgical instruments, wrenches, and turbines.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • stainless steel — n [U] a type of steel that does not ↑rust ▪ stainless steel cutlery …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • stainless steel — noun uncount steel that has been treated to stop RUST from forming on its surface, used for making knives, tools, and other things ╾ ,stainless steel adjective …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • stainless-steel — adjective Thesaurus: made of a particular metalhyponym types of metalhypernym Main entry: stainless steel …   Useful english dictionary

  • stainless steel — 1917, a chromium steel alloy (usually 14% chromium) used for cutlery, etc., so called because it is highly resistant to rust or tarnish …   Etymology dictionary

  • stainless steel — ► NOUN ▪ a form of steel containing chromium, resistant to tarnishing and rust …   English terms dictionary

  • stainless steel — n. steel alloyed with chromium, etc., virtually immune to rust and corrosion …   English World dictionary

  • Stainless steel — Stainless steel. См. Нержавеющая сталь. (Источник: «Металлы и сплавы. Справочник.» Под редакцией Ю.П. Солнцева; НПО Профессионал , НПО Мир и семья ; Санкт Петербург, 2003 г.) …   Словарь металлургических терминов

  • Stainless steel — Iron alloy phases Ferrite (α iron, δ iron) Austenite (γ iron) Pearlite (88% ferrite, 12% cementite) …   Wikipedia

  • Stainless Steel — Rohrleitungsteile und Formstücke aus rostfreiem Stahl Rostfreier Stahl ist ein allgemeinsprachlicher Ausdruck für eine Gruppe von korrosions und säurebeständigen Stahlsorten. Diese Stähle sind auch bekannt unter der korrekteren Bezeichnung… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Stainless Steel — Stain|less Steel 〈[ stɛınlɛs sti:l] engl. Bez. für〉 rostfreier Stahl * * * Stainless Steel   [ steɪnles stiːl, englisch] der, , nicht rostender Stahl, Qualitätsbezeichnung auf Gebrauchsgütern. * * * Stain|less Steel [ steɪnlɪs sti:l], der; [engl …   Universal-Lexikon

  • stainless steel — [[t]ste͟ɪnləs sti͟ːl[/t]] N UNCOUNT Stainless steel is a metal made from steel and chromium which does not rust. ...a stainless steel sink …   English dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”