Apart from iron, the significant element in stainless steel is chromium which guarantee its anti -corrosive property. The minimum amount of chromium used is 10.5%. Chromium also improves the corrosion resistance by forming a chromium oxide film on the steel. This very thin layer, when placed under right condition, can also be self-repairing.

    There are other elements used to compose this steel as well, including nickel, nitrogen and molybdenum. For example, Stainless steels can be more ductile than carbon steels because they usually have higher amounts of nickel. Bringing these elements together forms different crystal structures that enable a variety of properties in machining, welding and forming.

There are four major types of stainless steel. Of these, austenitic steel is the most widely used one. It has a minimum nickel content of 7%, which makes it very flexible. This kind of steel is mainly used in a range of houseware products, industrial piping and vessels, constructional structures and architectural facades.

    Ferritic stainless steel has similar properties to mild steel, but is better corrosion resistant. This type of steel is commonly used in washing machines, boilers and indoor architecture. 

Martensitic stainless steel is a very hard, strong type. It contains around 13% chromium and is used to make knives and turbine blades.

    There is also a duplex steel that is a composite of austenitic and ferritic steels. This steel is both strong and flexible. Duplex steels are most commonly used in the paper, pulp and shipbuilding industries. It’s also widely used in the petrochemical industry.

    As we can see, stainless steel is a very versatile material. And it’s also very durable. It can literally be used for years and still remain stainless. Products made from it have a significantly longer lifespan than those made from other materials. Also, if stainless steel is scratched, it will retain its luster in the scratched area. The maintenance costs are lower, and stainless steel also has a very high scrap value.