STAINLESS STEEL

The family of Stainless Steel is divided into three general classifications: Austenitic Stainless - also commonly known as 18-8 stainless ( or 300 ) series. This group is the chromium- nickel type containing upwards of 8% nickel. The 300 series stainless steel is not hardenable by heat treatment. They are non magnetic and offer a great degree of corrosion resistance. The most affordable and generally used is Stainless 18-8. Some items are available in the 316 Stainless from stock. Type 316 Stainless offers superior corrosion resistance when exposed to sea water and chemicals. Type 316 stainless also has superior strength at high temperatures. Within this group there are many other types of stainless.

Martensitic Stainless - contains 12 to 20% chromium. This group is magnetic and hardenable.Type 410 and 416 is in this stainless group.The corrosion resistance factor is less than the 300 series.

Ferritic Stainless - alloys are also chromium stainless alloys.This group is magnetic and not hardenable by heat treatment. Type 430 is similar to 410 but containing additional chromium. The corrosion and heat resistance qualtities are generally superior to Type 410.

SILICON BRONZE

Silicon Bronze is the generic term used for various types of copper-silicon alloys. Examples of other terms are, Everdur, Duronze, and PMG Metal, to name a few. The properties of the trade named alloys are basically the same, with a high percentage of copper, and small amounts of silicon, manganese or aluminum added for strength. Silicon bronze has high resistance to a corrosive environment such as sea water, gases, sewage, and atmospheric conditions.

BRASS

Brass is a copper-zinc alloy. It is corrosion resistant and non magnetic. Brass has many uses in our world today. Many parts which are for an example, chrome or nickel plated, are brass based. Brass is relatively inexpensive, and is used in many industries.

MONEL

Monel is a nickel-copper alloy. The two types of monel are 400, and K-500. Monel alloy 400 has approximately 2/3 nickel and 1/3 copper. Monel alloy K-500 is similar, except that it has 3 % aluminum. Monel 400 has exceptional qualtities of strength, versatility, and resistance to heat and corrosion. K-500 is heat treatable, and is, in effect, a high strength version of the 400 alloy.

INCONEL

Inconel is a nickel -chromium alloy. Alloy 600 contains about 76% nickel, 16% chromium, and 7% iron. This alloy is an outstanding material for applications where fastenings must retain high strength and resistance to oxidation at high temperatures ranging up to 1600 degrees.