Forged Stainless Steel Applications
Forged stainless steel is popularly used in a variety of industries, such as Industrial, Food, Infrastructure and Oil & Gas due to its ability to perform in high stress and corrosive environments. Parts that can be manufactured using stainless steel forging include:
- Construction and Infrastructure: Stainless steel is utilized in buildings, bridges, tunnels, and other infrastructure projects due to its strength, corrosion resistance, and architectural appeal.
- Oil and Gas: Stainless steel is employed in pipelines, storage tanks, and refineries due to its resistance to corrosive substances and high-temperature environments.
- Energy and Power Generation: Stainless steel is used in power plants, nuclear facilities, nuclear waste container vessels and renewable energy sectors for applications such as turbine blades and shafts, heat exchangers and exhaust systems.
- Transportation: Stainless steel is utilized in automobiles, trains, aircraft, and ships for various components, including exhaust systems, structural parts and interior fittings.
- Medical and Healthcare: Stainless steel is commonly used in medical equipment, structural components for cryogenic vessels, surgical instruments, implants and hospital infrastructure due to its hygienic properties and biocompatibility.
- High strength parts for saltwater environments
- 17-4PH forged bar
Forged Stainless Steel Grades & Characteristics
Stainless steel has overall benefits of corrosion resistance and machinability, and each grade type of stainless steel comes with its own set of benefits:
AUSTENITIC STAINLESS STEEL
- Highest impact strength
- Cryogenic toughness
- Non-magnetic
MARTENSITIC STAINLESS STEEL
- High strength
- Pitting corrosion resistance
PRECIPITATION HARDENING (PH) STAINLESS STEEL
- Extreme strength and fatigue life
- Moderate toughness
DUPLEX STAINLESS STEEL
- Sound combination of strength and corrosion resistance
- Reliable toughness at room temperature
Benefits of Stainless Steel
Stainless steel offers a range of benefits that make it a preferred material across different sectors.
Corrosion Resistance: Stainless steel is renowned for its exceptional corrosion resistance, making it highly resistant to rust, stains, and environmental factors. It contains chromium, which forms a protective oxide layer on the surface, providing resistance to various corrosive media, including acids, alkalis, and moisture. This property is particularly valuable in industries such as:
- Marine and Offshore: Stainless steel is extensively used in shipbuilding, offshore platforms, and coastal structures due to its ability to withstand the harsh conditions of seawater.
- Chemical Processing: The resistance of stainless steel to corrosive chemicals makes it suitable for equipment like tanks, pipelines, and valves used in chemical plants.
- Food and Beverage: Stainless steel is commonly utilized in the food and beverage industry due to its hygienic properties, ease of cleaning, and resistance to food acids and contamination.
Strength and Durability: Stainless steel exhibits excellent mechanical properties, including high strength, toughness, and durability. It maintains its integrity even at extreme temperatures, making it ideal for various applications, such as:
- Construction and Architecture: Stainless steel is used in structural components, building facades, roofing, and bridges due to its strength, aesthetic appeal, and resistance to weathering.
- Automotive: Stainless steel finds application in exhaust systems, automotive frames, and body components due to its strength, heat resistance, and corrosion resistance.
- Medical and Pharmaceutical: Stainless steel is widely used in medical instruments, surgical equipment, and implantable devices due to its biocompatibility, sterilizability and corrosion resistance.
- Hygiene and Cleanability: Stainless steel possesses a smooth and non-porous surface, making it easy to clean and maintain hygiene standards and highly suitable for industries with stringent cleanliness requirements, including:
- Pharmaceutical: Stainless steel is used in pharmaceutical equipment, storage tanks, and cleanroom environments due to its ease of cleaning and resistance to contamination.
- Food Processing: Stainless steel is employed in food processing equipment, storage containers, and kitchen appliances due to its non-reactive nature, ease of cleaning, and corrosion resistance.
