The fabrication process requires compatible machines and also the material. You can not just randomly choose a metal type to start processing it. It requires enough information to avoid any damage during the fabrication process. Using the wrong type of machine or the wrong grade of metal will lead to expected damages. This will make you bear the high cost of damage, and you will not like to face such a situation.
Instead, you can decide which one is suitable for fabrication when you have all the information available.
In this case, you are about to choose the right grade of stainless steel for the fabrication process. To eliminate confusion, you can follow the information below. That will help you decide which grade will be suitable for the instrument or fastener you are fabricating. These grades have different natures even though they belong to the same metal type, which is stainless steel. Find out what these different grades offer.
Almost the majority of products of stainless steel are made of austenitic grade. The reason is the strength and resistance level they exhibit. Heat dissipation is one of the advantages this grade offers because of its medium amounts of chromium and high nickel. Among its common types, 304 is widely used for the production of general and industrial instruments.
· 301-type has high ductility and strength, which you can choose for the production of various goods.
· They offer good corrosion resistance, which makes them deal with environmental threats. The moisture can not cause damage to them because of that.
· 303 has a higher corrosion resistance level than the previous grades.
· When you go for 304-grade, you will get more features. This one has high malleability, corrosion resistance, weldability, and high machinability. Lots of options will be available to manufacture SS instruments. This high machinability allows manufacturers to find desired designs and precision easily.
· Then you get 316-grade, which has higher resistance to corrosion from the marine environment. If you are going to do the fabrication of marine goods, this grade will be suitable.
· It has the highest level of temperature resistance, weldability, and ductility than other grades.
In the fabrication process, you can manufacture kitchenware, food equipment, and industrial tools with it. Austenitic or 300-series is famous for construction facades in the corporate world. Many business towers and museums have SS façade, which are made of austenitic grade. Even the automotive and medical industries have lots of dependencies on this grade. The austenitic series has 904L-grade also, which is less common than others. However, it can deal with harsh environments for industrial applications.
Then the ferritic or 400-series comes, which is another type that has specific advantages. This one has high amounts of carbon, medium amounts of chromium, and very low amounts of nickel. Due to this composition, ferritic has slightly fewer features than the austenitic. However, it does not make it less important. Instead, many industries rely on it.
· Just like the rest of the grades of stainless steel, this one also offers high corrosion resistance. There are some conditions where carbon has better performance.
· Since they have a higher carbon composition, they resist some environmental threats.
· Ferritic 409 and 430 are suitable for automotive exhaust systems. It is because of the high resistance to carbon emission, which can be dealt with only by this grade.
· These emissions and atmospheric attacks can cause massive corrosion unless this grade is used.
· Another advantage you should keep in mind is the magnetic effects they have. Unlike the austenitic type, ferritic has magnetism.
· Since they have higher heat-transfer ability, they can work in many heat-related applications. This is how they survive in such conditions. If you are about to do fabrication for these applications, ferritic grade will be suitable.
· The strength level of ferritic is high, which leads to resistance. This resistance is against cracking caused by stress corrosion in harsh conditions.
· This makes them a high-temperature resistant grade, and you can choose them for such conditions.
· However, they have very low weldability. It will give you challenges related to this disadvantage.
· Also, this grade has normal ductility as compared to other grades.
There is another series, which is linked to the 400-type. That is martensitic, which is different from the previous ones. However, this grade is used for the fabrication of sharp products like blades and knives. It has the highest level of carbon as compared to other types. This reduces the cost of it and shows its resistance level.
· In this series, 410 has high resistance to corrosion caused by water, hot gases, acids, and alkalis. Many applications in the industrial sector have to deal with chemical corrosion. Their components need to be manufactured with a martensitic grade of SS.
· If you choose this grade for fabrication, expect heat resistance also from them.
· Their 420-grade is used for knife and razor blades. Also, you can do fabrication to manufacture surgical instruments.
· Their corrosion resistance level is high since the chromium level is moderate like other series.
· It can be hardened further to offer the strength level you want to have. The instruments you manufacture with them will perform well in tough conditions.
· If you go with 431-grade, its tensile strength along with corrosion resistance will give you lots of benefits.
· The carbon content in it plays a crucial role in the hardening process.
The martensitic series is used for cold forming, which will help you manufacture lots of automotive parts. Also, many medical instruments and industrial parts can be manufactured through cold fabrication.
Then the last series comes, which is duplex. It has the highest levels of chromium and nickel in it. That makes it not only corrosion-resistant but more than that. Also, it has the lowest levels of carbon in it.
· Since duplex is a combination of ferritic and austenitic grades, you will find higher strength in it.
· This higher strength and corrosion resistance make it costlier. The alloy content in it is higher, which is why the material cost is also high.
· If you are choosing it for the fabrication process, you need to know its resistance level. It has resistance to fatigue and stress against cracking.
· Although it has a higher alloy, there is a problem with it. You will get a poor level of machinability in duplex SS.
· Also, its poor formability will be a problem for you. This will create problems in the fabrication process when you go for it.
· Duplex grade also has magnetism in it.
· What you will find in it is resistance to sulfides and chlorides. This will help you deal with such environmental threats.
Likewise, the use of duplex 2205 is common in the petrochemical industry. Lots of installations have this grade in chemical industries too.
Choose them wisely in your fabrication process because each type has its own series. This means they have different resistance levels and costs. It will affect the post-purchase process if you choose them wisely.
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