How can stainless steel work in the marine industry?

Stainless steel is one of the extremely important materials for the marine industry, for example. Its outstanding strength makes it possible to create structures of high durability. Let's find out more about it.

1. What is stainless steel?

2. How is stainless steel corrosion resistant?

3. What affects the corrosion resistance of stainless steel?

4. In what industries is stainless steel particularly useful?

What is worth knowing about high-quality stainless steel? Let's try to find out the most important information about this material.

What is stainless steel?

Stainless steel such as S31254 is a type of high-grade steel whose main characteristic is high corrosion resistance. It is valued in industry not only because of its low risk of rusting, but also because of its high durability, strength and resistance to various external factors. The most important component of stainless steel is chromium, which is also responsible for its corrosion resistance. It forms a protective layer in reaction with oxygen and moisture, which keeps the material from deteriorating. As a result, stainless steel is readily used in a wide variety of applications, including work in particularly harsh environments. There are various types of stainless steel available today, which differ in various characteristics. It is also worth noting that there are different types of stainless steel finishes.

These are:

- ground stainless steel: it is subjected to a grinding process. As a result, its surface is even and free of scratches, and has a matte finish. This results in a soft and subdued aesthetic effect.

- Polished stainless steel: it is subjected to a polishing process, making its surface smooth and shiny. This gives it an added aesthetic value. Polished stainless steel is used, for example, to create decorative elements.

How is stainless steel corrosion resistant?

Stainless steel has the property of corrosion resistance primarily due to the so-called passivation process. What does this mean? Due to the presence of chromium in the composition of the steel, a chromium oxide layer is formed on the surface of the material under the influence of oxygen and moisture in the air. It is invisible to the eye, but is of great importance. It is very durable, because after contact with oxygen it is able to regenerate itself, even in the case of mechanical or chemical damage. A protective layer of chromium oxide protects the material from those factors that cause corrosion. As a result, the material does not succumb to it. However, it should be noted that this does not mean that stainless steel cannot corrode. In aggressive chemical environments, chromium oxide may not be enough. For this reason, it is extremely important to match the type of stainless steel to the conditions in which it will be used.

What affects the corrosion resistance of stainless steel?

The corrosion resistance of stainless steel is affected by several issues. The first, and primary, is naturally the chemical composition of the material.

The resistance to rusting of steel is affected by:

- chromium: the steel should contain a minimum of 10% of it in its composition. It is on it that the change in electrochemical potential that causes corrosion resistance depends. At high temperatures, the minimum chromium content is as high as 20% for a steel to be stainless.

- Carbon: unlike chromium, the presence of carbon in the composition results in reduced corrosion resistance. For this reason, there should be as little of it as possible.

- Nickel: thanks to it, steel performs better in various corrosive environments, such as seawater, for example. The material becomes more resistant and inert chloride solutions and sulfuric acid.

Other components that affect the corrosion resistance of steel include molybdenum, manganese, titanium, nitrogen, copper, tantalum and niobium.

However, it is not only the composition that affects the resistance of steel. The type of its surface also matters. The smoother it is, the greater the chance that it will not rust. Moreover, the structure is also important. It can be very different. As a general rule, single-phase structures have greater corrosion resistance than two-phase structures. The environment in which the material will be located is also very important. Places, such as near the sea, where there is high humidity are conducive to the formation of rust. For this reason, the type of steel there must be selected with special care. It is usually recommended to use austenitic chromium-nickel steel with molybdenum, such as 254SMO, 1.4547.

In what industries is stainless steel particularly useful?

Stainless steel, due to its unique properties, is widely used in many industries. In the marine industry, 254SMO works well. It is an austenitic stainless steel alloy with 6% molybdenum and nitrogen. It is widely used in oil and gas processing, chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, food and even paper industries. SMO254 is a product with high resistance in sulfuric acid environments, as well as resistance to stress corrosion cracking in chloride environments. Stainless steel is also widely used in the construction industry. It can be used both for interior finishes, as a decorative element, and to create sturdy structures. It is also used in the manufacture of household goods, in the food industry and in medicine.