Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is the generic term for alloys of iron and carbon that contain only a very small proportion of harmful accompanying elements such as sulphur, phosphorus or oxygen. A distinction is made between unalloyed and alloyed stainless steels. The targeted addition of certain alloying elements gives stainless steel special properties that make it suitable for a variety of applications. The most commonly used alloying elements include chromium, nickel, molybdenum, titanium, vanadium and tungsten. These additives are used to produce stainless, heat-resistant or high-temperature-resistant stainless steels and materials that are chemically resistant, can withstand high mechanical loads and are easy to form, cut or weld. Stainless steels are classified as low-alloy or high-alloy depending on their alloy content. If the proportion exceeds a total of five percent by mass, they are classified as high-alloy steels.