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Technical

BASIC PROPERTIES
Stainless steel is a generic term for a family of corrosion resistant alloy steels containing more than 10.5% chromium. It has excellent weldabilty, formability, fabricability, ductility, cleanability and hygeine characteristics. Good high and excellent low temperature properties. Essentially non magnetic however can show magnetic properties if not annealed after being cold worked or cast (as in fasteners and fittings).

When nickel is added in sufficient amounts the crystaline structure changes to "austenite". Series 300 stainless steels (including G316 and G304) are austenitic and are the most common stainless steels in use in the world today.

G304 (also know as UNS S30400, A2 or 18-8 stainless) is by far the most common and has excellent corrosion resistance in a wide range of media. It resists rusting in most architectural applications and is successful in chloride environments where exposure is intermittent and cleaning is regular.

G316 (also known as UNS S31600, A4 or "marine grade" stainless) has molybdenum added for higher corrosion resistance and is recommended for aggressive environments.

CORROSION
The chromium in stainless steel causes a thin film to form on the surface giving stainless its corrosion resistence. When this film is damaged by scratching or surface contamination by foreign materials such as salt, pollution, metal filings etc. corrosion can occur. After removal of rust marks the film self heals after a short period of time.