Stainless Steel Raw Materials Key Terms

Learn more about stainless steel ingredients for smarter steel shopping

Rust may never sleep, but stainless steel never rusts. Even though stainless steel is more expensive than regular steel, it's still widely used in highly visible and/or harsh conditions because of a typically attractive finish and the ability to weather outdoor and marine environments. If you're considering buying stainless steel or some other alloy, it pays to learn some stainless steel raw materials key terms so you can choose wisely.

 

Chromium (Cr)

Stainless steel, by definition, must have a chromium content of at least 11%. Chromium, which is a steel-grey hard metal that takes a polish well and has a high melting point, was discovered in 1797. Chromium has always been prized for its hardness and corrosion resistance.
Try: Learn more about chromium at WebElements.

Iron (Fe)

Iron is one of the world's most abundant metals and has been used by man for some 5,000 years. Before oxidation, iron is a silvery-grey color; after oxidation it becomes a brownish-red. Iron is the chief ingredient in all steels, including all types of stainless steels.
Try: Learn more about iron at Jefferson Lab.

Nickel (Ni)

Nickel is a hard, lustrous, magnetic, silvery-white metal that takes a polish well. It's often used in superalloys because of its corrosion resistance. Nickel also increases steel's heat and acid resistance. Nickel is used in austenitic stainless steel.
Try: Visit Los Alamos National Labs for more information on nickel.

Manganese (Mn)

Manganese is a hard, brittle, grey-white metal. Most of the manganese mined in the world is used to make steel. Manganese is often found alongside iron in nature.
Try: Go to the International Manganese Institute for more information about manganese.

Silicon (Si)

Silicon makes up more than 25% of the earth's crust, making it the second most abundant element in the earth's crust after oxygen. It's better known for its use in semiconductors, but it's also required for the production of stainless steel.
Try: Visit the Radiochemistry Society for more information about silicon.

Carbon (C)

Carbon is a nonmetallic element used in small amounts in the production of stainless steel. Even in so-called high carbon stainless steel, the carbon content is only 1.2%.
Try: Learn more about carbon in stainless steel at wiseGEEK.

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