FERRITIC STAINLESS STEELS
Ferritic stainless steels are the chromium based group of stainless steels with a body-centred cubic (BCC) crystal structure, containing no nickel or very little. Because they do not depend on nickel, their prices are more stable than those of the austenitic grades.
They are magnetic and cannot be hardened by heat treatment. Their clearest advantage is that they are far more resistant to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in chloride-bearing environments than the austenitic steels. Their coefficients of thermal expansion are also low, which reduces distortion in parts working at high temperature.
In return, their formability and weldability are behind those of the austenitic grades, and a loss of toughness can be seen at low temperatures. They are therefore used less for heavy structural loads and more in applications exposed to atmospheric corrosion where forming demands are limited.
Choosing a grade. For parts that will be welded and will work at high temperature, AISI 405 is suitable thanks to its titanium stabilisation. AISI 430, the most common ferritic grade, is used on decorative surfaces and in interior applications. AISI 430F is the choice for free-machining parts requiring extensive machining, and molybdenum-bearing AISI 434 where higher corrosion resistance than 430 is required.
OUR FERRITIC STAINLESS STEEL GRADES
To identify the right grade for your application, or to share your size, standard and certification requirements, contact us.