Stainless Steel

Multi Metals stocks a complete range of stainless steel sheet, round and flat bar, angle, box, tube and fittings. Resistant, hygienic and attractive, stainless steel is ideal for diverse applications, either structural or decorative. The properties of stainless steel offer you many benefits:

Corrosion resistance
Tough at low temperatures.
Heat resistant. High elevated temperature strength
Hygienic. Easy to clean
Amenable to deep drawing, stretching and forming
Weldable
Hardenable
Durable
Environmentally friendly

Stainless steels are iron alloys with a minimum of 10.5% chromium. Other alloying elements – Nickel, Molybdenum, Titanium, Copper – or non-metal elements – Carbon, Nitrogen – are added to enhance properties such as formability, strength and cryogenic toughness.We offer three types of stainless steel to suit our customers’ diverse specifications:

Austenitic: Non magnetic stainless steels with typically 18% chromium and containing nickel. With increased resistance to acids, alkalis, and other chemicals, and to corrosion in industrial and agricultural environments, austenitic steels are the most extensively applied group of steels. They are used structurally, architecturally and for purposes as varied as chemical plants and street furniture.

Ferritic: Magnetic stainless steels containing typically between 13% and 17% chromium. Low carbon content. Suitable to mildly corrosive environments. Not hardenable by heat treatment. Often used in trim work and less demanding applications.

Martensitic: Magnetic.

Similar resistance to Ferritic. Typically 12% chromium, with higher carbon content. Hardenable by quenching and tempering, like plain carbon steels. Used in cutlery manufacture, aerospace and general engineering.