Stainless Steel

Lowest-chromium ferritic stainless steel with Ti stabilization. Developed specifically for automotive exhaust systems as a cost-effective alternative to austenitic grades. Good oxidation resistance to ~800°C. Used for exhaust manifolds, catalytic converters, mufflers, and heat shields.

Ferritic chromium stainless steel with good corrosion resistance and formability. Lower cost than austenitic grades. Used for automotive trim, kitchen sinks, architectural panels, and appliance components.

17% Cr Ti-stabilized ferritic stainless. Cost-effective alternative to 304 for many applications — no Ni means ~30-40% lower cost. Immune to chloride SCC. Used for automotive exhaust systems (downstream), kitchen sinks, washing machine drums, heat exchangers, and architectural trim.

Stabilized ferritic stainless steel with Mo addition. A cost-effective alternative to 316L for applications where austenitic properties are not needed. Excellent resistance to chloride stress corrosion cracking. Used for hot water tanks, solar collectors, automotive exhaust, and catering equipment.

High-chromium ferritic stainless steel (23–26% Cr) with aluminum (1.2–1.7%) and silicon (0.7–1.4%) additions for maximum scaling resistance up to 1150°C. The highest oxidation resistance among ferritic stainless steels. Non-hardenable. Resistant to sulfur compounds and reducing gases. Used for furnace linings, kiln rollers, burner parts, thermocouple protection tubes, steam boiler superheater elements, and extreme-temperature components. Equivalent to AISI 446.

Free-cutting ferritic stainless — AISI 430F equivalent. S 0.15-0.35% + Mo 0.2-0.5% for machinability and slight improvement in pitting resistance. THE ferritic Automatenstahl for CNC screw machines. Used for screws, nuts, bushings, fittings, and automotive components where ferritische Korrosionsbeständigkeit with machinability is needed. Magnetic, not weldable.

Ti-stabilized ferritic stainless with Mo — 18% Cr + 2% Mo + Ti. Best pitting resistance in the ferritic family (PREN ~25, comparable to 316L austenitics). Ti stabilization prevents sensitization after welding. Used as cost-effective replacement for 316L in hot water systems, solar collectors, catering equipment, and automotive exhaust heat exchangers. No Ni = lower cost than austenitic.

Lean ferritic stainless with just 12% Cr and ~1% Ni — the cheapest stainless option. Also called "utility ferritic" or 3CR12. Lower corrosion resistance than 304 but much better than carbon steel. Magnetic, weldable (with precautions), and formable. Used where mild corrosion resistance at lowest cost is the goal: railway wagons, coal trucks, bus chassis, sugar mills, and architectural cladding in mild environments.

Low-cost utility ferritic stainless steel (12% Cr). A cost-effective alternative to 304 where full corrosion resistance is not required. Good weldability for a ferritic grade. Used for railway wagons, bus bodies, sugar industry, mining equipment, and structural applications.

Titanium-stabilized ferritic stainless steel with 12% chromium, often called the muffler grade stainless steel. Ultra-low carbon (max 0.03%) with Ti stabilization prevents sensitization during welding. Excellent formability for stamped and deep-drawn components. Primary material for automotive exhaust systems (manifolds, catalytic converter housings, mufflers), hot water heaters, and welded tubes. Cost-effective alternative to austenitic grades. Service temperature up to 600°C.

Ti- and Nb-stabilized ferritic stainless steel with very low carbon (max 0.03%) and 17.5-18.5% Cr. The dual stabilization with Ti and Nb provides excellent resistance to intergranular corrosion and superior high-temperature oxidation resistance. Non-hardenable. Used extensively for automotive exhaust manifolds, catalytic converter housings, heat exchangers, furnace parts, and kitchen equipment. More economical than austenitic grades for high-temperature applications.

THE standard ferritic stainless steel — 16-18% Cr, no Ni. Non-hardenable, magnetic, lower cost than austenitic grades. Good corrosion resistance for indoor/mild environments. Used for kitchen sinks, automotive trim, washing machine drums, architectural panels, and catering equipment. Not suitable for welding thick sections (grain coarsening). AISI 430.

Ferritic chromium-aluminum stainless steel with good oxidation resistance up to 850°C. The aluminum addition (0.10–0.30%) improves scaling resistance at elevated temperatures by forming a protective Al₂O₃ layer. Non-hardenable by heat treatment. Used for furnace parts, burner nozzles, heat exchangers, and automotive exhaust system components.