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The material "Stainless Steel" is also commonly recognized as "Inox" or "Rostfrei". Stainless Steel has multiple uses in our everyday lives and many of us take the material for granted. But how many people actually know what stainless steel is?

Like all types of steel, stainless steel is not a single metal but an alloy, which is a material made from two or more separate elements alloyed or "melted" together. What all steels have in common is that their major "ingredient" (alloying element) is the metal Iron, to which a small amount of carbon has been added. Stainless steel was invented early in the 20th century when it was discovered that a certain amount of the metal chromium (usually a minimum of 11 per cent) added to ordinary steel gave it a bright shiny gloss and made it highly resistant to tarnishing and rusting. This rust-resisting property which we call “corrosion resistance” is what sets stainless steel apart from most other forms of steel.

Stainless steel is essentially a low carbon steel which contains chromium at 10% or more by weight. It is this addition of chromium that gives the steel its unique stainless, corrosion resisting properties.
The chromium content of the steel allows the formation of a corrosion-resisting chromium oxide film on the steel surface. If damaged mechanically or chemically, this film is self-healing, providing that oxygen, even in very small amounts, is present. The corrosion resistance and other useful properties of the steel are enhanced by increased chromium content and the addition of other elements such as molybdenum, nickel and nitrogen. There are more than 60 grades of stainless steel....it is 100% recyclable.

It is also worthwhile to select an appropriate grade. Highly corrosive conditions require specialized knowledge, but for general hygiene quality fabrication, the following guidelines apply:-
304 Probably the most used grade of all the stainless steels. It is of the group classified as austenitic which are non-magnetic. If the thickness exceeds 3mm and it is to be welded, L grade is recommended, which has a carbon content less than 0.03%
316 for improved corrosion resistance at temperatures less than 60o Centigrade (120o Fahrenheit) If the thickness exceeds 3mm and it is to be welded, L grade is recommended. It is also austenitic.
2205 for use in temperatures exceeding 60o Centigrade, where any free halides may be present, to resist stress corrosion cracking. Typically, this includes hot water. This 'duplex' grade is magnetic and approximately 15% stronger than the 'austenitic' grades. It is significantly harder to form however. It work hardens rapidly, requiring any forming processes to be as near as possible to one pass. This is particularly applicable when forming compounded curve shapes such as knuckling and dome forming.