Stainless steel is the name commonly given to steels with high chromium content due to their property of not rusting when exposed to air and water. Chromium, oxidizing in contact with oxygen, transforms into oxide of chromium (CrO2), which adheres to the piece, preventing further oxidation. API 5L X42 is an extremely important class of steels used for the most diverse purposes.

Types of stainless steel

The term stainless steel (or inox) generically indicates high alloy steels containing chromium, generally in quantities between 11 and 30%. Other binders that boost corrosion resistance property of steel pipes are nickel, molybdenum, copper, titanium, and niobium. In any case, in order to properly speak of steel, the total of alloying elements must not exceed 50%. The components of this family of steels are classified according to their microcrystalline structure, which derives from their different chemical composition. One can buy best stainless steel pipes from ss pipe suppliers in Mumbai.

Martensitic stainless steel

It has very high mechanical characteristics and is well machinable. It is known above all with the American classification. For example, chromium steel is AISI 400 series; in the UNI nomenclature, it has abbreviations such as X20Cr13, X30Cr13, X40Cr14.

Typical elements present in it are carbon, manganese, silicon, chromium, and molybdenum, but not nickel; sulfur can be added if chip breaking is required (however at the expense of mechanical characteristics).

Martensitic stainless steel is self-hardening, but an excessively tensioned structure arises from the rolling temperature to room temperature. It is easily buy from P9 Pipe suppliers.

•            Workability annealing: this is carried out with the isothermal method only when the minimum hardness is desired; otherwise, it cools down at a constant speed. Cooling speed can be choosing according to hardness required;


•            quenching at a temperature of about 1000 ° C and for a time sufficient to dissolve the chromium carbides;


•            tempering at different temperatures depending on whether you want to favor hardness, corrosion resistance, or toughness.

Martensitic stainless steels are mainly used for their high resistance to creep, although their weldability is extremely critical and their corrosion resistance is lower than that of ferritic and austenitic stainless steel.

Stainless steel in the food sector

Stainless steel valve pipes and fittings buy from stainless steel tube suppliers play importance role in the food sector.

The food sector is not like the others: it is a critical sector because it affects the health of citizens and, therefore, requires ad hoc regulations. Stainless steel, on the other hand, is a material allowed and suitable for contact with food because:

• Not afraid of corrosion caused by acidic foods and drinks


• It does not affect the organolepticproperties or the coloring of edibles.


• It is easy to clean and guarantees maximum hygiene during the production and processing stages.


• It boasts an incredible resistance over time and a fair malleability, so it can be shaped as per the requirementto facilitate processing and storage operations.