Welcome to our comprehensive guide on the stainless steel materials used in manufacturing and engineering applications. We want to show you the different steel types and properties, helping you understand their specific uses and advantages. You’ll also see some differences when considering steel vs. stainless steel.
It’s also important to know that all Carr Lane Mfg. stainless-steel items undergo a passivation process after machining to maximize corrosion resistance.
Different Types of Stainless Steel
303
Grade 303 stainless steel is the primary “300-Series Stainless Steel” referenced in our catalog. We may substitute grade 304 for some products based on material-size availability. Like the other 300-series stainless steels, Grade 303 provides excellent corrosion resistance. It is essentially non-magnetic but cannot be heat treated.
It offers excellent tensile strength but lesser yield strength consistent with its high flexibility and toughness. Added Sulphur and Phosphorus enhance free-machining qualities to yield smooth machined surfaces and tight tolerances, especially for threaded parts. All Carr Lane Mfg. stainless-steel items undergo a passivation process after machining to maximize corrosion resistance.
303 Applications
- Machined Parts: Due to its excellent machinability, 303 stainless steel is commonly used for producing various components, such as screws, bolts, nuts, fittings, stainless steel fasteners, and stainless steel hardware.
- Aircraft Fittings: Corrosion resistance makes 303 stainless steel excellent for aircraft fittings.
304
Also known as “18/8” because of its 18% Chromium and 8% Nickel content, this stainless steel is similar to 303 but is slightly more corrosion-resistant in some environments. This is because it lacks Sulphur and Phosphorus.
304 Applications
- Food Processing and Kitchen Equipment: 304 stainless steel is often used in food processing equipment, such as food storage containers, kitchen sinks, countertops, and utensils. Since it is very corrosion-resistant and easy to clean, it’s ideal for kitchen use.
316
This stainless steel type is similar to 303 and 304 stainless steel, but has molybdenum included as an alloying element to prevent specific forms of corrosion. Also known as “Marine-Grade” stainless, 316 offers significantly better corrosion resistance in and around “salt-water” environments.
316 Applications
- Marine Equipment: Because it can resist seawater and marine atmospheres, 316 stainless steel is commonly used to build boats, ship fittings, offshore oil rigs, and other equipment.
- Food Industry: Used for processing equipment, storage tanks, and piping because it is resistant to corrosion caused by food products and cleaning agents.
17-4PH
17-4PH stainless steel is identical to SAE630 and EN1.4352. This unique stainless steel combines the excellent corrosion resistance of 300-series stainless steels with the excellent hardenability, high strength, and toughness of 400-series stainless steels.
17-4PH is magnetic and contains much less nickel than 300-series stainless steel. This material is frequently employed by Carr Lane Mfg. for applications where material strength, hardness, and abrasion resistance are the top priorities. In nearly every application, this material is hardened, achieving a Rockwell “C” hardness of 40-44.
17-4PH Applications
- Aerospace: This type of stainless steel is common in aircraft components like landing gear, structural parts, and turbine blades due to its high strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance.
- Pulp and Paper Industry: It is used in various components like pumps, valves, and agitators, where corrosion resistance is required.
440C
Grade 440C stainless steel is a high-carbon steel that, after heat treatment, can attain the most extraordinary hardness, wear resistance, and strength of any standard stainless alloy. 440C stainless steel contains high chromium but no nickel, offers moderate corrosion resistance, and is magnetic.
Capable of being heat treated to a hardness of more than 58 on the Rockwell “C” scale, this rigid material is used for applications that prioritize wear resistance to retain maximum dimensional accuracy over time.
When deciding what steel to use, it’s good to know that 440C is an expensive material that is difficult to machine. 440C should only be used in applications where 17-4PH does not provide enough hardness.
440C Applications
- Bearings and Valve Components: The high wear and corrosion resistance make this stainless steel suitable for manufacturing various industries’ bearings, bushings, and valve components.
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Carr Lane Mfg. prides itself on manufacturing stainless steel tooling components built to last.
Are you considering a stainless steel part but don’t know where to start? Please get in touch with our team for more details about different stainless steel materials and how they can apply to your needs.
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