Non-rusting steel
Definition
Stainless steel, also known as non-rusting steel or NiRoSta, is a group of corrosion- and acid-resistant steel grades. It contains at least 10.5% chromium and a maximum of 1.2% carbon, which forms a protective passive layer of chromium oxide on the surface.
Types
There are various types of stainless steel:
- Austenitic stainless steel
- Ferritic stainless steel
- Martensitic stainless steel
- Duplex steel (austenitic-ferritic)
Materials
Stainless steel mainly consists of:
- Iron
- Chromium (at least 10.5%)
- Carbon (maximum 1.2%)
- Nickel
- Molybdenum
- Manganese
- Niobium
Applications
Stainless steel is used in many areas:
- Architecture (stair railings, exterior walls)
- Food industry (processing equipment)
- Medical field (surgical instruments, implants)
- Household (kitchen utensils, sinks)
- Energy generation (nuclear power plants, thermal power plants)
- Automotive industry (exhaust systems, structural components)
- Heavy equipment and machinery