FOREWORD 2
Atlas Steels Technotes 2
Atlas Grade Datasheets 2
Atlas Steels Technical Department 2
Limitation of Liability 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS 3
THE FAMILY OF MATERIALS 4
Steel Grade Designations 4
STAINLESS STEELS - INTRODUCTION TO
THE GRADES AND FAMILIES 6
The Families of Stainless Steels 6
Austenitic Stainless Steels 6
Ferritic Stainless Steels 7
Martensitic Stainless Steels 7
Duplex Stainless Steels 7
Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steels 7
Characteristics of Stainless Steels 7
Standard Classifications 7
Austenitic and Duplex Stainless Steels 8
Ferritic and Martensitic Stainless Steels 9
Comparative Properties of the Stainless Steel
Alloy Families 10
CORROSION RESISTANCE 11
General Corrosion 11
Pitting corrosion 11
Crevice corrosion 12
Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) 12
Sulphide Stress Corrosion Cracking (SSC) 13
Intergranular corrosion 13
Galvanic corrosion 14
Contact corrosion 14
HIGH TEMPERATURE RESISTANCE 16
Scaling Resistance 16
Creep Strength 16
Structural Stability 17
Environmental Factors 17
Thermal Expansion 17
CRYOGENIC PROPERTIES 19
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES 20
Magnetically Soft Stainless Steels 20
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES 21
Mechanical Properties of Wire 22
Mechanical Properties of Bar 22
FABRICATION 23
Forming Operations 23
Machining 25
Welding 26
Soft Soldering 27
Brazing ("Silver Soldering") 27
HEAT TREATMENT 29
Annealing 29
Hardening 30
Stress Relieving 30
Surface Hardening 31
SURFACE FINISHING 32
Passivation 32
Pickling 32
Degreasing 33
Electropolishing 33
Grinding and Polishing 33
Mechanical Cleaning 34
Blackening 34
SURFACE CONTAMINATION IN
FABRICATION 35
Contamination by Carbon Steel 35
Contamination by Chlorides 35
Contamination by Carbon 35
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS IN
FABRICATION OF STAINLESS STEELS 36
Grade Selection for Fabrication 36
Design to Avoid Corrosion 36
Specific Design Points - To Retain Corrosion
Resistance 37
GUIDELINES FOR STAINLESS STEEL GRADE
SELECTION 39
APPENDICES 41
Grade Summary - Stainless & Heat Resisting
Steels 41
Comparison of Grade Specifications of
Stainless Steels 43
Typical Physical Properties - Annealed
Condition 44
Hardness Conversions 45
Unit Conversions 46
Dimensional Tolerances for Bar 47
Further Information 48
Internet Sites of Interest 49
