The decision about wire used for fabrication doesn’t stop with a material such as “stainless steel”. Stainless Steel itself comes in comes in a number of types/grades, each with unique properties. Choosing the right steel number/grade helps you ensure that the products you create have the composition and qualities that you need to make your operations a success. And unlike Galvanised Steel – there are common internationally accepted organisations that manage these standards and grades.
Standardising Grades
Back in the 1930s and 1940s, the standards organization SAE International and the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) began working to standardize a numbering system for stainless steel. Their work overlapped a great deal. As a result, you will see older plans refer to AISI/SAE steel grades. In 1995, the AISI turned over the future maintenance of the numbering systems to the SAW. This is because the AISI was not the author of the specifications.
You will see steel quotes and certifications today that make reference to both AISI and SEA. Often, these are not precisely differentiated. For instance, you will see references to 316 stainless steel, AISI 316 or SAE 316. In most cases, these three can be treated as the same. However, if there are very specific needs, the standard chosen should be followed.
Historically, the AISI system also used a letter prefix that would say which steel making process was used. For instance, the letter E meant electric arc furnace steel; the letter C before the number meant that the steel was made in an open-heart furnace. When the letter L was used, that mean that lead had also been added.
Today’s World
The AISI range of steel specifications also includes stainless steels which are 3 digit numbers starting with either a 2, 3, 4, or 5. The most popular of these being the 300 series austenitic stainless grades, followed by the 400 series martensitic grades. Stainless Steel Wire Rope is generally manufactured from 300 series Stainless Steel. The 300 series has a number of different purposes depending on additives. For example G302 offers high corrosion resistance, plus high strength. G304L differs from type 304 due to a lower carbon content to make it more weldable. Type 316 has higher levels of nickel and chromium; the L type has lower carbon increasing its resistance to corrosion.
Picking the right type starts with considering the application. Know what qualities you need during fabrication and operation. With this knowledge, you can choose the steel type that will ensure that you get the results that you want.
Check out our Benefits of Stainless Steel Wire Rope for more information
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Our Australian based Consulting team can help you decide which stainless steel wire rope is right for your application. Send an Email or call 1300 601 514 to get in touch with a team member and inquire about your stainless steel wire rope options!