What is stainless steel?

Stainless steel is an alloy of iron and several other elements (such as nickel, chromium, molybdenum, and carbon) that is more resistant to corrosion than ordinary iron or steel (simple iron and carbon).

These stainless steel elements, such as nickel, chromium and other additives, give it a passivated oxide layer that prevents rust and forms a shiny reflective surface. Compared with ordinary steel, the glossy surface of stainless steel is difficult to tarnish, so it is called "stainless steel".

Ingredients

Stainless steel metal is nickel, iron ore, chromium, silicon, molybdenum and other raw materials fused together to form. Stainless steel metal contains a variety of basic chemical elements that, when fused together, form a powerful alloy.

Different proportions of stainless steel elements - iron, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, and carbon (among others) - determine the type of stainless steel. The ratio of iron to other materials affects the strength of the protective oxide layer, the resistance of the metal to specific corrodes, and some other mechanical properties (hardness, melting point, shear modulus, etc.).

These different proportions of stainless steel components produce different types of stainless steel alloys. Each unique combination is called a "grade" of stainless steel - for example, grade 304 stainless steel, grade 316 stainless steel or grade 420 stainless steel.