Metal alloy selection is a complex thing, though you can make it easy by keeping the outcome in mind. You need to know the properties that you expect from metal alloys. The commonest properties of a meta alloy are strength, weight, formability, and corrosion resistance. Corrosion-resistant materials have been used extensively for industrial purposes. The following section of this article gives you a guide on what is corrosion resistant alloy.
Types of Corrosion Resistant Alloys
You will find different types of corrosion resistant alloys nowadays. One of the most popular alloys for manufacturing industrial and non-industrial surfaces is stainless steel. Stainless steel is an iron-based alloy, which contains around 10.5% chromium. The alloy does not catch rust in regular or normal atmospheric conditions. In the following section, you can find a detailed guide on different stainless steel and other types of metal alloys.
1. Austenitic Stainless Steel
The austenitic stainless steel is also known as 300-series stainless steel. The commonest grades of this stainless steel are 304 and 316. Among various grades, the 316 grade has been regarded as the highest corrosion-resistant material.
2. Martensitic Stainless Steel
Also known as 400-series stainless steel alloy, this alloy comes with carbon, chromium, and more. Interestingly, the alloy does not possess any amount of nickel. The commonest grade of this alloy is 420A, which is known for its high corrosion-resistant properties. However, martensitic stainless steel is not as much corrosion-resistant as austenitic stainless steel.
3. Ferritic Stainless Steel
The ferritic stainless steel is also a part of the 400 series of stainless steel. The 430A has been recognized as one of the commonest grades. On the other hand, ferritic stainless steel comes with a higher chromium percentage, while the carbon content remains on the lower side for such stainless steel.
4. Duplex Stainless Steel
The duplex stainless steel is another type of steel alloy, which comes in two distinct phases. The duplex stainless steel combines the positive properties of both ferritic and austenitic stainless steel. This is an advanced corrosion-resistant alloy, which serves the purpose with precision.
5. Superalloys
Also known as high-performance alloys, the superalloys have been designed to render outstanding mechanical strength. Therefore, no wonder that this alloy has extensive use in various mechanical and engineering purposes. At the same time, you can commonly find the alloy in multiple industrial deployments.
Clear Coatings for Metal
When discussing corrosion-resistant metals and alloys, it is essential to mention the nano coating for metal. Nano coating is based on the revolutionary nanotechnology. It is an industrial surface paint or coating, which prevents corrosion and weathering damage to the surfaces.
Corrosion-resistant alloys are costly and not easily available in many cases. In such cases, regular and cheap metals have been used to develop industrial surfaces. Later, the industries add nano coatings on these surfaces to make them rust-resistant.
Bottom Line
So, these are some basic things that one should know about the corrosion-resistant metal alloys. The article has listed the top five metal alloys that have extensive industrial use. You can find more industrial alloys, though efficiency in corrosion resistance may vary from one type to another. Applying nano-coating on such alloys can improve their efficiency in resisting surface damage due to moisture, salt, harsh chemicals, and more.
