Stainless wire: basic types, marking and use

The appearance of stainless steel is due to engineer Harry Brearly. By adding a chemical element called chromium to the metal, he tried to achieve an increase in the melting point. This was required to improve the characteristics of the artillery barrels. During such experiments it was found out that the resulting alloy has differences in comparison with others. They consist in resistance to chemical attack. This is due to the formation of a chromium oxide on the surface of the film .

Studies on stainless steel began in 1871, and the first patent was registered only in 1913. A modern analogue of stainless steel, which meets all the requirements for strength and chemical properties, was obtained in 1924 by a scientist named Hartfield.

Basic ideas about stainless steel

In reference books or other literature, corrosion-resistant steel has the following designation: "steel grade 08H18N10". This means the content of the following elements:

• Carbon - no more than 0.8%;
• Chromium - 18%;
• Nickel - 10%.

These are the main chemical elements, but in the alloy there are also other inclusions, their percentage does not exceed 1%.

The main products of stainless steel

From corrosion-resistant steel are produced such varietal products as:

• Stainless steel wire;
• Sheet steel ;
• Pipes of different wall thickness and inner diameter;
• Profiled products.

Also, many household knives and knots of food processors are made from this material.

Stainless steel wire

Like any other product of metallurgy, the wire is produced in accordance with the current Russian standards.

Regulates the production of such material as stainless wire, GOST 18143-72. According to this document, it has a thickness of 0.3 to 6 millimeters.

Such a wire can be used both as an end product and can be further processed by molding. Then from it you can get:

• Chains with different sizes of links,
• A grid with a different cell pitch,
• Springs.

The cross-section of such a wire is usually round, but you can also see oval or square species. The circular cross-section is very convenient when using the material in the welding process of the same stainless steel.

Stainless wire has the following main advantages:

• High values of corrosion resistance to moisture, aggressive industrial environments and condensate;
• Wire with a high content of molybdenum, chromium, nickel, copper, silicon, vanadium has high indicators of heat resistance, reliability and durability.

Application of stainless wire

Due to the long service life, resistance to acid and alkaline environments, stainless steel wire has been widely used in two directions:

• Knitting in ropes;
• Welding works;
• Netting for filters.

Stainless wire, the price of which varies from 120 to 350 rubles per kilogram, depending on the thickness and features, widely used in such industries as:

• Machine-building;
• Electric power industry;
• Oil;
• Chemical;
• Food.

Welding wire

The extensive development of the chemical industry required metallurgists to create a metal capable of maintaining high mechanical properties in corrosive environments. In addition to resistance to the effects of various chemical elements, in some industries, properties are also required, with which the metal can withstand the effects of high temperatures. Stainless steel solves many of the tasks. In addition, the use of other materials in the food industry is impossible.

The modern level of processing of metal products allows you to manufacture complex products, but you can not do without welding connections. Stainless wire is used for welding products in complex assemblies that are exposed to corrosive media.

The main advantage of welding stainless wire is that, when used, the weld is practically clean, free of harmful slags and stray inclusions. Due to the use of stainless steel material, the seam itself is not susceptible to oxidation. The payment for such advantages is that the welding process in this case is quite complicated, and consumables are expensive.

Wire made of stainless steel is used only in automatic welding. It is fed by an automatic feeder, the current is also passed through it.

A shielding gas enters the arc zone, which displaces the oxidants, due to this there is a complete cutting of the seam and connection of all the components.

Welding wire is wound in a steel drum continuous up to 50 meters long. The average diameter of the drum is 50 millimeters. Feeding the wire from the spindle occurs by rotating the two clamping coils. In the middle are cut oblique grooves, with the help of which there is a reliable gripping of the wire and feeding it to the welding gun. Before winding a stainless wire, it is thoroughly cleaned of dirt and foreign inclusions.

Welding wire marking

The wire is manufactured by cold rolling and hot working. It has two types of accuracy - normal and elevated. In the latter case, after the marking, the letter P is placed in brackets.

Stainless wire has two main markings - domestic and foreign.

The Russian marking has an alphanumeric form - 10Х17Н13М2Т. The following order of letters and numbers means its internal structure and chemical composition. The figures determine the percentage composition of an element, and the letter is the element itself. The above abbreviation is interpreted as follows:

• 0.1% of carbon;
• Chromium - 17%;
• Nickel - 13%
• Manganese - 2%
• The letter T means that the wire is produced by heat treatment.

The European standard is rather complicated and does not have a single marking on the norms. Each steel manufacturer patents its composition.