Stainless Steel Characteristics and Usage by Steel Grade

Classification		Characteristics	Usage
Austenite	301	Has lower Cr, Ni content than 304 steel. Its tensile strength increases with cold drawing. It is non-magnetic and acquires magnetism after cold drawing.	Trains, aircraft, belt conveyors, vehicles, bolts, spring
	301L	301 steel is created by lowering the C content in 301 steel and by improving grain boundary corrosion resistance of the welding part. Strength deterioration due to reduced C content is reinforced by adding N.	Train frames, building exterior material
	303	Good free-cutting property by adding S and excellent anti-quenchability.	Shafts for electric appliances, OA products, bolts and nuts
	304	Most widely used steel type. Good corrosion resistance, thermal resistance, low-temperature strength and mechanical properties. Good drawability such as Deep Drawing, Bending and does not harden during heat treatment. (non-magnetic, usable temperature:-196~800°C)	Hollow and flat ware, sinks, interior piping, hot-water boilers, bath tubs, boilers, automobile parts (wiper, muffler, molding), medical instruments, building materials, facilities in chemical, food and dairy industries, vessel parts
	304L	304L stainless steel pipe is low carbon 304 steel. In normal conditions, it has similar corrosion resistance. Excellent resistance to inter-granular corrosion after welding and stress relieving. Has corrosion resistant properties without heat treatment and is generally used at temperatures under 400°C(non-magnetic, usable temperature:-196~800°C)	Machinery and tools used in the chemical, coal, and petroleum industry that require high inter-granular corrosion resistance, building materials, heat resistant part and parts that are difficult to implement heat treatment on
	304Cu	By adding Cu, it has good pliability and good drawability. Useful for deep drawing products which requires a hygienic environment	Thermos bottles, kitchen sinks, pots, group food serving facilities, door knobs, products requiring spinning or drawing
	304N1	304 stainless steel tube is made by lowering the S and Mn content in 304 steel and adding N to prevent ductility reduction. Strength is improved and thickness reduced.	Structural use, street lights, water tanks, water pipes
	304LN	Strength and inter-granular corrosion resistance are improved by adding N.	Structural use, heat exchangersystems, chemical vessels
	304H,M,S	Steel types formed for wire rods by adjusting the C content in 304 steel. Strength increases with cold drawing.	H: wire ropes, hooks, CD Bars M: mesh, bolts, nuts, CD Bars S: mesh
	304HA,HC	Steel types formed for wire rods by adjusting the C content in 304. Good cold headability and free-cutting property.	HA: shaft HC: medium and large size bolts and nuts HD: CD Bars HN: nails
	305	High Ni content. Non-magnetic and suitable for deep drawing use due to good cold formality.	Dinnerware, electrical parts
	316	Excellent corrosion resistance, pitting corrosion resistance and high temperature strength by adding Mo. Useful in severe/harsh conditions. Excellent drawing hardening (non-magnetic).	Sea water equipment, equipment for chemicals, paper, dye, acetic acid, fertilizer, photo and food industry and construction in coastal areas, ropes, CD Bars, nuts and bolts
	316L	Low carbon steel type. Has the normal properties of 316 plus excellent inter-granular corrosion resistance.	Made with 316 steel, excellent inter-granular corrosion resistance, mesh
	316S	Has 316 stainless steel tubing properties and suitable for ultra fine wire.	Mesh
	321	By adding Ti, prevents intra-granular corrosion, suitable under 430°C~900°C	Airplane exhaust pipes, boilers, heat exchangers.
Ferrite	409L	By adding Ti, has good weldability and drawability.	Used for automobile exhaust pipes, heat exchangers, container for which post-heat treatment is not applied.
	410L	Excellent welding bendability by lowering the C content in 410 steel; high temperature oxidation resistance (magnetic).	Machine frames, engine exhaust pipes, boiler combustors, burners
	430	Steel type that represents Ferrite; low thermal expansion rate and excellent drawing and oxidation resistance.	Heat resistant tools, burners, household electric appliances, sink covers, building materials, nuts and bolts, CD Bars, mesh
	430J1L	Adding Mo,Ti and Nb results in good corrosion resistance, weldability and high temperature oxidation resistance.	Washing machine tanks, automobile exhaust pipes, electric appliance parts, three fold bottom pots.
	436L	Adding Mo,Ti and Nb results in excellent corrosion resistance, drawability and weldability.	Automobile exhaust pipes, water supply facilities.
	444	Due to inherent characteristics of 400-series stainless steel, drawability and weldability fall below those of 304. However, drawability is improved by using extremely minute [C+N] and the ferrite-only phase is maintained by adding Nb, a ferrite stabilizing element. As a result, this new type of steel for water tanks has an improved corrosion resistance and softness as well as higher resistance to stress, corrosion, and cracking. Furthermore, the heat treatment before and after welding can be omitted.	Water tanks, drainage
	444		Solar energy water heater, electric water heater
Martensite	410	Steel type that represents Martensite, goof strength but not suitable for use in harsh/severe corrosion conditions. Has excellent drawability and hardens with heat treatment (magnetic).	General knife blades, machine parts, petroleum refining apparatus, bolts, nuts, pump shafts, spoons, forks
	420J1	In quenching condition, has high strength and good corrosion resistance (magnetic)	General knife (dinner knife) turbine blades
	420J2	Compared to 420J1, higher post-quenching strength (magnetic).	Knife blades, nozzles, valves, rulers, scissors, general knives

Stainless Steel Characteristics and Usage by Steel Grade

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