The Role Of Various Metal Elements That Make Up Stainless Steel

1 chromium
The decisive role of chromium in stainless steel: There is only one element that determines the properties of stainless steel, which is chromium. Each stainless steel contains a certain amount of chromium. To date, there is no chromium-free stainless steel. The fundamental reason why chromium has become the main element that determines the performance of stainless steel is that adding chromium as an alloying element to steel promotes its internal contradictory movements to develop in a direction that is conducive to resisting corrosion damage.
2 carbon
Duality in stainless steel
Carbon is one of the main elements in industrial steel. The properties and structure of steel are largely determined by the content and distribution of carbon in the steel. The influence of carbon is particularly significant in stainless steel. The influence of carbon on the structure of stainless steel is mainly reflected in two aspects. On the one hand, carbon is an element that stabilizes austenite and its effect is very large (about 30 times that of nickel). On the other hand, due to the very high affinity between carbon and chromium, Large, and forms with chromium – a series of complex carbides. Therefore, from the perspective of strength and corrosion resistance, the role of carbon in stainless steel is contradictory.
3 nickels
The role of nickel in stainless steel is exerted after it is combined with chromium
Nickel is an excellent corrosion-resistant material and an important alloying element in alloy steel. Nickel is an austenite-forming element in steel, but in order to obtain pure austenite structure for low-carbon nickel steel, the nickel content must reach 24%; and only when the nickel content is 27% does the steel’s resistance to certain media Corrosion properties change significantly. So nickel alone cannot constitute stainless steel. However, when nickel and chromium exist in stainless steel at the same time, nickel-containing stainless steel has many valuable properties.
Nickel is a diamagnetic element, so stainless steel cannot be attracted by magnets.
4 Titanium and niobium
Titanium or niobium is used in stainless steel to prevent intergranular corrosion.
5 Molybdenum and Copper
Molybdenum and copper can improve the corrosion resistance of some stainless steels.