Steel grades

Free-cutting high-carbon martensitic stainless steel. Sulfur-enhanced variant of X46Cr13 (1.4034) for automated production of knife blades and cutlery. Combines the high hardness of X46Cr13 (up to 54 HRC) with excellent machinability for mass production on automatic lathes and CNC machines. Used for industrially manufactured knife blades, scissors, and cutting tools.

Austenitic Cr-Ni stainless with higher Ni (11-13%) than 304 (8-10.5%) — AISI 305. The higher Ni content lowers work-hardening rate, making it ideal for severe cold forming and deep drawing operations where 304 would crack. Same corrosion resistance as 304. Used for deep-drawn sinks, pots/pans, complex stampings, and cold-headed fasteners where minimum work-hardening is needed.

Supermartensitic stainless steel with high Ni and Mo. Excellent combination of high strength (up to 1000 MPa) and good corrosion resistance. Superior to CA6NM (1.4313). Used for offshore flow lines, subsea Christmas trees, hydraulic cylinders, and pump shafts.

Premium martensitic stainless steel with 0.50% C, 15% Cr, Mo and V additions. The signature blade steel of German knife manufacturers (Wüsthof, Zwilling J.A. Henckels, Victorinox Swiss Army). Mo and V improve corrosion resistance, hardenability, and toughness beyond basic Cr13 grades. Achieves 55-57 HRC. Excellent rust resistance, easy sharpening, and good edge retention. Also known as Krupp 4116. Equivalent to 5Cr15MoV (Chinese).

High-carbon martensitic stainless steel with Mo addition for blades and cutting tools. Higher carbon (0.48-0.60%) than X50CrMoV15 with similar Cr and Mo but without V. Achieves high hardness (56-58 HRC) with excellent wear resistance. Used for premium knife blades, scissors, surgical instruments, and industrial cutting tools. Popular in Japanese-influenced European knife manufacturing.

THE most widely used stainless steel worldwide — the original "18/8" austenitic (V2A). Good corrosion resistance in natural environments (water, humidity, weak acids). Non-magnetic when annealed. NOT resistant to intergranular corrosion after welding — use 1.4307 (304L) or 1.4541 (321) for welded service. PREN 17.5-21.1 — not suitable for chloride/seawater. Used everywhere: kitchen equipment, food processing, architecture, chemical tanks, automotive, medical devices.

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.

Niobium-stabilized austenitic stainless with Mo — 316+Nb. Nb stabilization prevents sensitization (like 347) PLUS Mo gives pitting resistance (like 316). Best of both worlds for high-temperature welded chemical plant. Used for welded pressure vessels, heat exchangers, and piping operating at 400-800°C in mildly corrosive environments.

Titanium-stabilized austenitic Cr-Ni-Mo steel — AISI 316Ti. THE German standard industrial stainless (known as "V4A"). Ti prevents Cr-carbide precipitation at 450-850°C giving intergranular corrosion resistance after welding. Better high-temp stability than 316L (up to 550°C). PREN 23-27. Used extensively in chemical/pharmaceutical plants, pressure vessels, food processing, apparatus construction, and shipbuilding.

Niobium-stabilized austenitic stainless — European equivalent of AISI 347. Nb (10×C min) binds carbon to prevent Cr-carbide precipitation during welding or service at 400-800°C ("sensitization"). Same base composition as 304 but immune to intergranular corrosion after thermal cycling. Used for welded constructions in chemical plant, nuclear reactor internals, exhaust manifolds, and any 18/10 austenitic application with repeated heat exposure.

Titanium-stabilized austenitic stainless — AISI 321. Ti (5×C min) prevents Cr-carbide sensitization during welding or service at 400-800°C. Same approach as Nb-stabilized 347 (1.4550) but with Ti instead. Better creep resistance than 304/304L at elevated temperature. Used for exhaust manifolds, aircraft exhaust systems, expansion bellows, and high-temperature chemical plant (to ~800°C).

Ultra-high-carbon martensitic stainless steel for maximum hardness and edge retention. The highest standard carbon content (0.60-0.75%) among EN 10088 martensitic grades with Mo addition. Achieves 58-60 HRC. Superior wear resistance and edge sharpness. Used for premium razor blades, surgical scalpels, industrial cutting tools, and high-performance knife blades where maximum edge retention is critical.

Semi-austenitic precipitation-hardening stainless steel equivalent to AISI 631 / 17-7PH. Hardens through aluminum-induced precipitation during aging. Can be supplied in various conditions (A, TH1050, CH900, RH950). Combines high strength (up to 1300 MPa) with good corrosion resistance and formability in the annealed condition. Used for aerospace components, flat springs, diaphragms, surgical instruments, and high-performance fasteners.

Heat-resistant austenitic stainless steel with 25% chromium and 21% nickel. Maximum continuous service temperature up to 1050°C in oxidizing atmospheres. Standard material for furnace construction, heat treatment baskets and fixtures, radiant tubes, muffles, and high-temperature chemical processing. Good resistance to sulfur-containing atmospheres. Equivalent to AISI 310S.

THE free-cutting austenitic stainless — AISI 303. Sulfur 0.15-0.35% for short-breaking chips and excellent machinability. Not weldable (hot cracking risk from S). Reduced corrosion resistance vs 304 due to sulfide inclusions. Used for high-volume CNC screw machine production of fittings, shafts, bushings, valves, and any turned stainless part where machining cost dominates.

High-carbon martensitic stainless steel — 0.9% C + 18% Cr. Achieves HRC 58-60 after hardening — among the hardest stainless steels. Better corrosion resistance than 440C (1.4125) due to higher Cr (17-19% vs 16-18%). THE premium European cutlery/surgical instrument stainless. Used for kitchen knives, surgical scalpels, razor blades, ball bearings in corrosive environments, and valve seats.