Stainless Steel and CNC Machining
Stainless steel is an incredibly versatile metal and is often used for CNC (Computer Numerical Control) Machining and CNC turning in the aerospace, automotive and marine industries. Stainless steel is known for its corrosion resistance, and with various alloys and grades of stainless steel available, there are a wide variety of applications and use cases. This article will explain the different types of stainless steel's mechanical properties and help you determine the best grade for your project.To get more news about
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Austenitic stainless steels are primarily used for products that require strong corrosion resistance. Domestic, industrial and architectural products often use austenitic stainless steel. These could include:
Austenitic stainless steels are known for their machinability and weldability, which mean they are often used in CNC machining. Due to its mainly crystalline structure, austenitic stainless steel cannot be hardened by heat, making them non-magnetic.
Ferritic steel
Ferritic stainless steel contains around 12% chromium. It differs from other stainless steel forms due to its chemical composition and molecular grain structure. Unlike austenitic steel, ferritic steel is magnetic due to its body-centred cubic grain structure. It is commonly used for automotive parts and kitchen appliances with a lower corrosion resistance and heat resistance than austenitic steel.
Ferritic steel offers a high degree of resistance to stress corrosion ****ing. This makes it a popular choice of steel for environments where chloride may be present. Stress corrosion ****ing can degrade steel if exposed to a corrosive environment, particularly when exposed to chlorides.
Martensitic steel
Martensite is a tough form of steel, and its properties mean it is a steel that can be heat-treated and hardened. However, it usually has reduced chemical resistance compared to austenitic steels.
The benefits of martensitic steel mean that it offers a low cost, air-hardening metal with moderate corrosion resistance, which is easy to form, with a minimum chromium content of 10.5%.
Precipitation Hardened Steel is the strongest steel grade, is heat treatable and has excellent corrosion resistance. Due to this, it is largely used for aerospace components, where extreme durability and reliability is needed from the part.
PH steel is also used in the oil, gas and nuclear industries. This is because it offers a combination of high strength but generally a lower but workable degree of toughness. The most popular grades of precipitation-hardened steels are 17-4 PH and 15-5 PH.
