Stainless Steel

Generally, any steel containing more than 10.5 percent of chromium is classified as stainless. However, there are many grades for specific purposes. These may contain nickel or molybdenum or both, but always chromium. High chromium steel, often including nickel, is resistant to corrosive and oxidizing influences. The best known form of stainless steel is 18-8, an austenitic steel containing about 18 percent chromium, 8 percent nickel, with the carbon content kept low.