Stainless steel combines the strength of steel with exceptional heat and corrosion resistance. Thanks to the stability and high strength of the material, stainless steel parts demonstrate outstanding performance within high-stress and heavy-wear environments. These properties combined give stainless steel nearly unlimited utility for many vital industrial purposes.
Today, five families of stainless steel alloys are typically used. They include austenitic stainless steels, duplex stainless steels, ferritic stainless steels, martensitic stainless steels, and precipitation hardening stainless steels.
Named in honor of a British metallurgist named Sir W.C. Roberts-Austen, the 300 series of the alloy – austenitic stainless steel, has become the most common stainless steel alloy on the market today. Its characteristic composition contains significant levels of iron, chromium, and nickel. This non-magnetic, corrosion-resistant, and ductile product demonstrates low temperature and room temperature toughness and can be welded with ease. It is widely used in food processing equipment as its corrosion resistance enables it to successfully withstand repeated cleaning without degrading.
These magnetic steels include chromium in their composition, and they display strong resistance to corrosion stress cracking, as well as resistance to oxidation and corrosion in general. They occur frequently in some types of automotive parts, such as exhaust pipes, and often play a significant role in decorative trim.
Martensitic stainless steel alloys typically contain no nickel, but they do include high levels of chromium. They generally demonstrate good corrosion resistance and will harden during heat treatments, although some types won’t work well in very polluted settings under highly corrosive conditions. Applications for martensitic stainless steel alloys include surgical equipment, springs, and many types of industrial equipment parts.
Precipitation hardening or PH steels are corrosion resistant alloys that accept heat treatments for hardening purposes. Applications for specialized types of these alloys include aerospace industry uses and construction uses.
One of the newest types of stainless steel alloys on the marketplace, these alloys involve combinations of austenitic and ferritic stainless steels. Duplex stainless steel products offer greater resistance to cracking caused by stress corrosion, and enhanced strength properties. They play a role in applications in many structures that require strong stainless steel to bear weight or withstand heavy motion.
High performance austenitic stainless steels and duplex stainless steels are suitable for the production of forged stainless steel parts used in very unforgiving environments. High performance austenitic stainless steels include high levels of nickel, chromium, molybdenum and nitrogen that contribute to the steel’s high corrosion resistance. On the other hand, duplex grades possess a microstructure that offers high strength and enhanced resistance to stress corrosion cracking, as well as good resistance to localized corrosion.
Forging either of these types of stainless steel augments and amplifies some of their preexisting properties. First, it enhances stainless steel’s corrosion resistance, enabling the metal to endure harsh (and even extreme) environmental conditions. Second, unlike either casting or machining, forging helps produce a continuous, unique grain flow pattern contributing to stainless steel’s strength. Third, forging helps produce a higher strength-to-weight ratio. As a result, at the end of the forging process stainless steel provides a much enhanced overall product displaying greater strength than comparable casting or machined parts.
Due to their physical properties, forged stainless steel parts are often used in power generating plants, oil and gas drilling platforms, marine and general engineering structures, food processing equipment, offshore and land installations, and chemical and petrochemical machinery, equipment, and structures.
Our company possesses the expertise and the experience required to produce the highest quality stainless steel forgings. From fittings to flanges, pipes to plates, rings to shafts, and billets to bars, our stainless steel parts will satisfy all your project specifications.
Additionally, we can assure you the fastest possible service because of our impressive inventory of extensive, diversified stainless steel parts. We keep many different shapes and grades of steel on hand, including steel discs, blocks, round bars, flat bars, and more.
Our firm stands ready to undertake projects large and small in scope. We strive to provide an excellent level of customer service, rapid turn-around times, and on-time delivery.
For further information about our stainless steel forgings service, contact us via the convenient website form or submit a request for quote directly.
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From a contract manufacturing firm, BuntyLLC evolved into a full service custom machined, forged and cast metal parts fabrication enterprise. We supply global solutions from our headquarters in Greenville, South Carolina.
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