MATERIAL FAMILY
Stainless Steel
Stainless steels are iron-based alloys whose chromium-rich surface film provides corrosion resistance. The exact grade determines how they perform in a particular environment.
What defines it
- A protective passive surface film
- Several distinct metallurgical families
- Grade-dependent corrosion performance
Understand the distinction
Stainless steel describes more than one kind of steel. Its chromium-rich passive surface film is the common basis of corrosion resistance, while its internal structure separates austenitic, ferritic, martensitic and duplex families. Those differences help explain why two stainless materials can have different mechanical and fabrication behaviour.