What is Stainless Steel?
Understanding the definition of stainless steel is important before learning how it is made. How does it differ from plain steel? Basically, stainless steel is an alloy of several elements such as iron, carbon, nickel, molybdenum, and chromium. This material is formed when these elements are melted and fused together to create a very powerful alloy.
Thus, making it more corrosion-resistant compared to plain steel. These elements also provide the material with a passive oxide layer to help it become more resistant to rust. Due to that, creating a shiny and reflective surface. With its shiny surface, stainless steel are also tarnish-resistant.
How It Is Made?
This material is made by melting all the above raw materials and fusing them together. Thus, creating a potent alloy. The proportion of each element in the stainless steel determines its type or grade.
The ratio of the different elements is not always exactly the same. The element ratio present in stainless steel is affected by the different grades to be produced. At TuoLian, we exactly determine all the grades of stainless steel before production. Below is the different stainless steel manufacturing processes.
All the raw materials for stainless steel productions are melted in an electric furnace and heated to its melting point for up to 12 hours.
Excess carbons are removed by placing the molten raw material in an argon oxygen decarburization or vacuum oxygen decarburization. This process affects the material’s hardness and tensile strength.
The molten steel are stirred to remove or distribute a specific stainless steel component. Thus, the material will gain a fine-tuned quality. This process helps to ensure quality.
When the material starts to cool, it undergoes different process of forming such as hot rolling and cold rolling depending on shape requirements.
The material is annealed or heat treated to alter the material’s mechanical properties and reduce the internal stress.
Surface treatments will depend on the stainless steel’s application. The purpose of this process is to provide the material with smooth surface and protection.