Stainless steel is an iron-containing alloy with a 10,5% and more chromium and 1,2% and less carbon content that is resistant against corrosions due to a thin self repairing passive layer on its surface.
Stainless steel was invented as a product of the individual and joint efforts of the European steel producers in the early 1900s before the First World War, and patented in 1912. Since then, stainless steel has passed through various stages and provided a wide range use and brought ease and economic contribution to the industry and daily life. It is mainly used for products and plants that require high level of hygiene. The increasing wide-spread use of stainless steel, which has become an important culture today, is the indication of quality and economical values.
The stainless steel adventure that began in 1912 with patenting of two qualities as V2A (the current Cr18Ni8) and V4A (the current Cr20Ni10Mo2), has today expanded to a wide range of utilization areas with more than 120 quality types. They are usually classified as Ferritic, Austenitic, Martensitic and Duplex.
Each group has different internal structural properties and crystal structures, and resistance levels based on different fields of use. The qualities must be selected according to the resistance properties required in the relevant field of use.
In cases where demands for resistance against utilization environment cannot be met by other more cost effective metals or substances, stainless steel is an indispensable and reliable material. In addition, stainless steel contains the necessary features and contents to meet the hygiene requirements for air, water, liquid and other chemicals, food and beverage industry.
Basic characteristics of stainless steel:
• Resistance against corrosion,
• Esthetic appeal,
• Heat resistance,
• Low life cycle cost,
• Fully recyclable,
• Biologically neutral,
• Easy production and cleaning,
• Weight / endurance ratio
Stainless steel products are widely used in automotive industry, home, kitchen tools, chemical industry, petroleum and natural gas pipelines and other hygiene requiring food and beverage industries, all areas where human and environmental protection is of utmost importance and where visual quality and durability constitute an inseparable whole.