Archive: Sep 2020

Why Choose 7-17 Stainless Steel?

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69% of all steel is recycled in North America every year. This ends up being almost more than 80 million tons of steel. It’s important to make sure you’re using the best steel for whatever you require it for. 17-7 stainless steel has many great qualities and can serve a variety of purposes. 17-7 stainless steel has two main qualities that make this steel an excellent choice. Those qualities are high corrosion resistance and high strength. This stainless steel is precipitation hardened, meaning it possesses not only high strength, but high hardness, great corrosion resistance, good fatigue properties, and minimal distortion with high heat temperatures.

17-7 stainless

Aerospace Applications

Because of these particular properties, 17-7 stainless steel is great for aerospace applications. This kind of stainless steel is preferred over another type of metal like aluminum. It’s the better choice for aerospace applications because of how it has high corrosion resistance, high strength, and high formability. Being able to withstand high heat temperatures without distorting is also very important for aerospace applications, making 17-7 stainless steel the perfect option.

Food Processing Equipment

17-7 Stainless steel can withstand high heat temperatures, making it great for food processing equipment. Like other steels, like 302 stainless or 304 stainless, 17-7 stainless steel does develop rust over time with heavy use. However, it rusts significantly less than other steels, making it the option to produce the least amount of rust. This makes it a safe option for food processing equipment.

Chemical Processing Equipment

Whenever processing any kind of chemical, it’s important to use a metal that can withstand any condition. Chemical processing equipment not only requires a metal that can withstand high heat temperatures, but it needs a metal with high corrosion resistance, fatigue properties, and high strength as well. 17-7 stainless steel contains all of these properties, so it’s no surprise that it’s a go-to option for chemical processing equipment.

General Metalworking

While this particular stainless steel is great for harsher uses, it’s also great for minimal or general metalworking. Simple machinery that requires springs or washers is perfect for 17-7 stainless steel. Again a lot of general metalworking machines require metals that can withstand very high temperatures, and 17-7 stainless steel can do just that.

Oil and Petroleum Refining Equipment

Metal that works closely with oil and petroleum must have a high resistance on wearing down. Oil can make metal rust more and break them down, which can be costly if the wrong metal is chosen. 17-7 stainless steel is known for being a great option for oil and petroleum refining equipment. It has a high resistance on wearing down and does not rust as much as another metal would in that environment.

 

17-7 stainless steel is a great metal that has a variety of uses it is perfect for. It’s properties allow it to be a great option for both heavier metalwork and general metalwork. It’s a reliable type of metal that will last longer and continue to be durable in intense environments.

5 Properties That Make 304 Stainless Steel Fit for Different Uses

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304 stainless

One of the most versatile and useful grades of stainless steel is 304 stainless steel, commonly referred to as 304 stainless. Type 304 stainless is the most common grade of austenitic stainless steel in the T 300 series. 304 stainless is the standard “18/8” stainless that is largely used to make household equipment such as cookery tools, and industrial applications such as fasteners and machinery parts. What qualities make 304 stainless so useful?

Chemical Composition

Type 304 stainless is composed of different elements at varying percentages. The two dominant elements are Chromium and Nickel. The minimum amount of Chromium you’ll find in 304 stainless is 18%, while Nickel accounts for 8% at the minimum. This is what informs the denotation “18/8” stainless steel. Other elements present in 304 stainless steel include carbon (0.098%), Nitrogen (.10%), Sulfur (.030%), Phosphorus (.045%), Silicon (.75%), and Manganese (2.00%).

Corrosion Resistance

Type 304 stainless is corrosion resistant in many environments that other materials could be affected by rust. For instance, the Marine Environment. The chromium added in steel alloys is what gives 304 stainless steel its corrosion resistance. Stainless steel is an alloy of iron, and the presence of Chromium prevents rusting. That’s why many equipment and machinery used in the Marine environment, outdoors, and in the kitchen are made from stainless steel. Otherwise, this equipment would be highly susceptible to rusting because they are frequently exposed to water and moisture. Additionally, 304 stainless is resistant to the moderately aggressive organic acids, thanks to the 8% Nickel composition. The corrosion resistance of 304 stainless steel increases its utility in different environments. Even more, it helps preserve and maintain the aesthetics of equipment by preventing rusting.

Good Welding Properties

Again, the presence of Chromium and Nickel in stainless steel makes it good for welding. Chromium facilitates ferrite formation that is very useful when welding. Using Grade 304L, the lower carbon version of 304 stainless, there is little or no need for post-weld annealing. This makes it suitable for use in high gauge components. The low-temperature properties of 304 stainless steel enable the hardening of welded parts and joints through cold working. Ultimately, welders find it easy to work with stainless steel because they can use any arc welding processes — MMA, TIG, MIG, and SA.

Easy to Clean and Maintain

The equipment made from 304 stainless is easy to clean using soap water. When you have tougher dirt accumulating on the stainless steel surface, you can use the regular detergent without damaging your equipment. The anti-corrosion properties of stainless steel make it easy to clean with soap and water without accumulating rust.

Aesthetic Appeal

304 stainless steel is attractive and gives products and equipment a good visual appeal. The shiny appearance of most cooking appliances such as pots and pans is due to the stainless steel. Given that 304 stainless is resistant to corrosion from acids found in vegetables, fruits, meats, and milk, it’s best suited to make most kitchen appliances.

There are different grades of 300 Series stainless steel austenitic. They include 302 stainless and 304 stainless. Type 304 stainless is widely used all over the globe because of its desirable qualities, such as corrosion resistance and good welding properties. Compared to other materials such as aluminum, copper, and brass, 304 stainless is most suitable for domestic and commercial uses. The majority of the everyday machinery, domestic appliances, and equipment utilize stainless steel. Today, it’s estimated that 40% of steel production across the world is made with recycled metal.