What is stainless steel?
Answers: Nickel, Chrome, others...
[edit] To receive ASTM A182A F316 (regular forged stainless steel), the required percentages are:
0.08%____Carbon
2.00%____ Manganese
0.045%___ Phosphorus
0.030%___Sulfur
1.00% ___Silicon
10-14%___Nickel
16-18%___Chromium
2-3%_____Molybdenum
Heat treat - solution treat and extinguish
Austenitizing/Solutioning Temp (min) - 1900°F
Cooling media - fluid
Quenching cool below 500°F
The addition of chromium is (mostly) what make it "stainless"... the other alloying elements provide it with other characteristics - toughness, weldability, heat resistance, etc...
It means steel that doesnt rot.
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