2.2.1.1.2 Steel and Stainless Steel

2.2.1.1.2 Steel and Stainless Steel

Steels are alloys of iron and carbon with other metals and typically have a carbon content of 2% or less, with some alloys containing no carbon at all. The physical properties of steel are mainly influenced by the interaction between the chemical composition of the steel, the thermal treatment of the steel and the method used to remove oxygen from the steel in the fabrication process.

Figure 19 Example of steel pipes
Figure 19 Example of steel pipes

The factors that have the most significant effect on the mechanical properties of stainless steel are its chemical composition and its crystalline microstructure. Stainless steel is an alloy of iron and chromium with at least 10.5% chromium and may contain other alloying elements. Some of the other commonly used alloying elements include manganese, silicon and nickel. Carbon and nitrogen may also be present. However, unlike the metallic alloying elements, which replace an iron atom in the metallic crystalline structure, carbon and nitrogen occupy the interstitial spaces between the metallic atoms.

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