Stainless steel is a very tough material that also has resistance to rust and other things. It’s primarily made of iron and chromium, but also includes some other elements. One of the main advantages of this material is that it resists rust and works in extreme conditions. The main material in this makes it an ideal material to use in various industries, construction, automotive, food, and medical parts. One should be aware of the composition of stainless steel, as it is rather essential to define the strength, corrosion resistance, heat stability, and performance of the material in general. The composition of the stainless steel is a direct indication of how the material is going to perform in its various applications, which in turn assists the industries in selecting the best grade of stainless steel to achieve long, safe, and cost-effective outcomes.
What Is Stainless Steel?
Stainless steel is an iron alloy that is famous in the world for its extraordinary strength as well as resistance to corrosion. The primary characteristic of this alloy is based on its composition, which should contain at least 10.5% chromium. This chromium content reacts with the oxygen that is present in the air and creates a thick passive oxide film on pm surface of the metal. This protects it from rust and enhances corrosion even in harsh conditions. Because of this self-healing property and excellent performance, long service life, and cost-effectiveness, this material is most trusted across different industries, whether it’s construction, manufacturing, food processing, and healthcare.
The main composition of the stainless steel
The stainless steel is mainly made of chromium, which requires a minimum need to be 10.5% in the final material. But other than that, it contains other metals also which detailed information is given below.
| Element | Role in Stainless Steel | Typical Percentage Range |
| Iron (Fe) | Base metal/structure | Balance (60–75%) |
| Chromium (Cr) | Provides corrosion resistance & forms a passive oxide layer | 10.5–30% |
| Nickel (Ni) | Improves toughness, ductility & corrosion resistance | 0–35% |
| Carbon (C) | Adds hardness & strength | 0.03–1.2% |
| Manganese (Mn) | Enhances strength & hot-working properties | 0.5–2% |
| Silicon (Si) | Improves oxidation resistance & strength | 0.2–1% |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | Boosts pitting & crevice corrosion resistance | 0–7% |
| Nitrogen (N) | Raises strength & corrosion resistance | 0.02–0.25% |
| Sulfur (S) | Added for machinability (in very small amounts) | ≤0.03% |
| Phosphorus (P) | Strengthens but can reduce toughness | ≤0.04% |
| Titanium / Niobium | Stabilizers to prevent carbide precipitation | 0–1% |
Types of Stainless Steel Based on Composition
The little difference in the mixture quality and method can affect the strength and resistance properties of the stainless steel. Below are the different types and the Stainless steel composition percentage based on their composition.
Austenitic Stainless Steel
The most used stainless steel by many industries is Austenitic stainless steel. These contain higher chromium and nickel levels. It gives them excellent resistance and good formability. It’s commonly used to make different kitchenware, medical tools, and piping systems, and the detailed information on different grades of this steel is given below.
| Grade | EN Specification | Carbon (C) | Silicon (S) | Manganese (Mn) | Phosphorus (P) | Sulfur (S) | Chromium (Cr) | Molybdenum (Mo) | Nickel (Ni) | Nitrogen (N) | Iron (Fe) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 301 | 1.4310 | 0.05 – 0.15 | 2.00 | 2.00 | 0.045 | 0.015 | 16.0 – 19.0 | 0.80 | 6.0 – 9.5 | 0.10 | Balance |
| 304 | 1.4301 | 0.07 | 1.00 | 2.00 | 0.045 | 0.015 | 17.5 – 19.5 | – | 8.0 – 10.5 | 0.1 | Balance |
| 304L | 1.4307 | 0.03 | 1.00 | 2.00 | 0.045 | 0.015 | 17.5 – 19.5 | – | 8.0 – 10.5 | 0.1 | Balance |
| 201 | 1.4372 | 0.15 | 1.00 | 5.5 – 7.5 | 0.045 | 0.015 | 16.0 – 18.0 | – | 3.5 – 5.5 | 0.05 – 0.25 | Balance |
| 316 | 1.4401 | 0.07 | 1.00 | 2.00 | 0.045 | 0.015 | 16.5 – 18.5 | 2.0 – 2.5 | 10.0 – 13.0 | 0.1 | Balance |
| 316L | 1.4404 | 0.03 | 1.00 | 2.00 | 0.045 | 0.015 | 16.5 – 18.5 | 2.0 – 2.5 | 10.0 – 13.0 | 0.1 | Balance |
Ferritic Stainless Steel
Ferritic stainless steel, compared to austenitic stainless steel it has little bit low percentage of chromium and no nickel. They provide a decent corrosion resistance but are less ductile than austenitic ones. These types of steel are mostly used to make different automatic exhaust parts and other applications. The detailed information about the different grades of this stainless steel is given below.
| Grade | EN Specification | Carbon (C) | Silicon (Si) | Manganese (Mn) | Phosphorus (P) | Sulfur (S) | Chromium (Cr) | Titanium (Ti) | Niobium (Nb) | Molybdenum (Mo) | Nickel (Ni) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 409 | 1.4512 | 0.030 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 0.040 | 0.015 | 10.5 – 12.5 | [6 x (C + N)] to max 0.65 | – | – | – |
| 430 | 1.4016 | 0.080 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 0.040 | 0.015 | 16.0 – 18.0 | – | – | – | – |
| 434 | 1.4113 | 0.080 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 0.040 | 0.015 | 16.0 – 18.0 | – | – | – | – |
| 439 | 1.4510 | 0.050 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 0.040 | 0.015 | 16.0 – 18.0 | [4 x (C + N) + 0.15] to max 0.8 | (3 x C + 0.3) to max 1 | – | – |
| 4509 | 1.4509 | 0.030 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 0.040 | 0.015 | 17.5 – 18.5 | 0.1 – 0.6 | – | – | – |
| 436 | 1.4513 | 0.025 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 0.040 | 0.015 | 16.0 – 18.0 | [4 x (C + N) + 0.15] to max 0.8 | – | 0.80 – 1.40 | 0.020 |
Martensitic Stainless Steel
Martensitic stainless steel contains more carbon than the other two, which makes it harder and stronger. But due to that, it also makes it less corrosion-resistant. They are mostly used to make compnotes like knives, cutting tools, or applications that require durability and sharpness. It also comes in many grades and is made with different compositions. So the information about these two things is given below.
| Grade | EN Specification | Carbon (C) | Silicon (S) | Manganese (Mn) | Phosphorus (P) | Sulfur (S) | Chromium (Cr) | Nickel (Ni) | Nitrogen (N) | Iron (Fe) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 410 | 1.4006 | 0.08 – 0.15 | 1.00 | 1.50 | 0.040 | 0.015 | 11.5 – 13.5 | 0.75 | – | Balance |
| 420 | 1.4021 | 0.16 – 0.25 | 1.00 | 1.50 | 0.040 | 0.015 | 12.0 – 14.0 | – | – | Balance |
| 420 | 1.4031 | 0.07 | 1.00 | 2.00 | 0.045 | 0.015 | 17.5 – 19.5 | 8.0 – 10.5 | 0.1 | Balance |
Why Stainless Steel Composition Matters?
Knowing the composition of the stainless steel is necessary since any part of the elements and its percentage content that is to be added in the material, can impact the strength, corrosion, and performance of the material. To illustrate, when the material is in an area where it is exposed to moisture, chemicals and saltwater, it needs stainless steel with a higher content of chromium and nickel to ascertain its strength and corrosion resistance. In the meanwhile, applications such as blades, tools or parts of machines require stainless steel to be harder and more durable. That is why information about the composition of stainless steel assists in choosing the appropriate stainless steel composition material to enhance the performance and dependable outcomes to be used.
Conclusion:
The stainless steel has been used in most industries because it is strong, resists corrosion, and withstands. The knowledge of the stainless steel composition and the percentage of each element can assist you in making the right choice of material to use on your project, which requires higher resistance to corrosion, strength, or heat. The suitable composition ensures the long-term results and cost-effective use.
In Jade Alloys, we offer quality Stainless Steel Sheets & Plates and other products capable of fulfilling various industrial needs and maintaining the same quality. Our materials, which may be sheet and pipe, bar and fittings, are sourced and supplied to provide reliable performance.
In case you have your next project, and you require the correct grade of stainless steel, then Jade Alloys is the place you can be.
