50mm AISI Sanitary 201 Stainless Steel Pipe Tubing 2MM Annealing

50mm AISI Sanitary 201 Stainless Steel Pipe Tubing 2MM Annealing

How Stainless Steel Differs From Plain Steel

One of the first things to know about stainless steel is that there are countless formulations of it on the market. What separates one of these stainless steel alloys from a plain steel alloy (aside from having different component metals in different ratios) is that protective oxide layer of film. As long as this oxide layer remains unhindered, the steel will retain a shiny surface appearance.

So, what causes stainless steel to form this oxide layer? The answer lies in the specific elements used in most forms of stainless steel: Iron, manganese, silicon, carbon, and chromium. Some forms of stainless steel also add nickel and/or molybdenum to further enhance the performance of the oxide layer. Of these elements, chromium has the highest impact on the rust resistance of stainless steel, meaning chromium-rich stainless steel alloys (such as most austenitic stainless steels) tend to have the highest overall resistance to corrosion.

Specific additives, such as molybdenum, can help to bolster a stainless steel alloy’s resistance to certain corrosive chemicals. For example, grade 316 stainless steel has molybdenum which grade 304 stainless steel lacks. Because of this, grade 316 stainless steel is more resistant to chlorides.

201 Stainless Steel Pipe Specification

Available Sizes