Stainless steel has a stainless steel grade, which was designed to help buyers understand the quality of the steel product they are purchasing. Stainless steel grade measures the temperature resistance, quality and durability of a stainless steel product.
Quality is identified with two numbers that are usually 18/8 or 18/10. The first number indicates the amount of chromium in the product, and the second indicates the amount of nickel in the product.
Typical applications
Sometimes the best way to know what grade of stainless steel should be used is to see what has been used in the past. Below are some examples of where certain grades of stainless steel are used.
Ferritic stainless steels:
Grade 409: Automotive Exhaust Systems and Heat Exchangers
Grade 416: Axles, Axles and Fixings
Degree 430: Food industry and household appliances
Grade 439: Automotive Exhaust System Components
Austenitic stainless steels:
Grade 303: Fasteners, accessories, gears
Grade 304: General Purpose Austenitic Stainless Steel
Grade 304L: Grade 304 applications requiring welding
Grade 309: Applications involving elevated temperatures
Degree 316: Chemical Applications
Grade 316L: Grade 316 applications requiring welding
Martensitic stainless steels:
Grade 410: General Purpose Martensitic Stainless Steel
Grade 440C: Bearings, knives and other wear-resistant applications
Precipitation Hardened Stainless Steels:
17-4 PH: Aerospace, nuclear and chemical applications
15-5 PH: Valves, accessories and fixing elements
Duplex stainless steels
2205: Heat exchangers and pressure vessels
2507: Pressure vessels and desalination plants
Disclaimer: Please note that this information is not to be used for design purposes and that under no circumstances will MSFFC be liable for any damages resulting from misuse of this information.
