Grades of Stainless SteelThere are many different grades of steel. Marko Stainless Products ensure that the grade of stainless steel used will match the requirements for your product.
Our most commonly used grades are 304 grade and 316 grade, and are used for both residential and commercial applications. |
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| Grade | Uses & Properties | |||
| 304 | 304 grade is the most specified of all Stainless Steel used, 304 grade accounts for more than 50% of our total use. It is extensively used for consumer products and appliances, commercial and domestic kitchens, hospital equipment and all manner of food service applications. It withstands rusting, organic chemicals and a wide variety of organic material. Available in all Stainless Steel finishes in sheet, coil, plate, strip, square tube, round tube, pipe, fittings, bars, angle, fasteners and cast products. |
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| 316 | This is the second most commonly used grade of Stainless Steel with approximately20% of total Stainless Steel use. 316 grade is used when a job requires greater resistance to corrosion than 304 grade. 316 grade has similar mechanical, physical and fabrication characteristics as 304 grade but is more resistant to corrosion and pitting. It is particularly suited for its resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride environments and marine applications. Areas for use include fittings and construction materials for seafront buildings and marinas where aggressive corrosion is apparent. 316 grade also is used in food service equipment, chemical labs resisting organic chemicals, dye stuffs and inorganic chemicals. Available in similar finishes and configurations as 304 grade, though with some exceptions. |
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| 430 |
Good combination of corrosion resistance, formability and mechanical properties. Typical applications include:
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Surface Finishes commonly available for Stainless Steel
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| Finish |
Properties |
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| 2D | A matt non-reflective finish produced by cold rolling followed by annealing and de-scaling and pickling. Used where a rougher finish is required for anti galling or better paint adhesion. |
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| 2B | A bright, moderately reflective cold rolled finish with the annealed and de-scaled coil receiving a final light pass through polished rolls. This general purpose finish can be used as is, or as a preliminary step to polishing. 2B is the most commonly used surface finish. |
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| BA | A bright annealed finish which has a mirror-like appearance produced by cold rolling, then annealed in a controlled atmosphere furnace. The final appearance is developed by a single light skin pass, through a cold mill over highly polished rolls, but is also dependent on additional mill work such as grinding. A bright-annealed finish is often specified for architectural applications where a highly reflective surface is desired. Typical uses include appliance trim, architectural components, cookware and food processing equipment. |
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| No.4 | No. 4 finish is produced by polishing the surface with abrasives. A general purpose polished finish widely used for restaurant equipment, kitchen equipment, shop fronts and dairy equipment. Following initial grinding with coarser abrasives, final finishing is done with abrasives having a particle size of approximately 120 to 150 mesh. |
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| No. 8 | No. 8 finish is the most reflective finish that is commonly produced on sheet. It is obtained by polishing with successively finer abrasives and buffing extensively with very fine buffing rouges. The surface is essentially free of grit lines. No. 8 finish is used for architectural parts, mirrors and reflectors. |
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Care of Stainless SteelAs with most things, a little bit of care will extend the life of your stainless steel product. The following provides a guide you can use to clean your product. Stainless Steel should be cleaned regularly with plenty of water. Dry afterwards to remove streak marks. Routine cleaning prevents build-up of stains. |
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| What to use | Plenty of water, mild detergent and a soft cloth or brush. You could also use a 1% solution of ammonia. If cleaning a No. 4 (satin) finish, clean with the grain. Rinse with plenty of clean water and wipe with a soft cloth or chamois. |
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| Guard against scratches | Stainless Steel can be scratched by careless handling. Avoid dragging items across the surface, especially across the grain. Grit under normally smooth objects may also scratch the surface. | |||
| Avoid incompatible materials |
Stainless Steel may discolour if left in contact with salts or acids for |
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| What not to do | Do not use steel wool or scrape surface with ordinary steel utensils.Do not use scourers and cleaning cloths that have been used on ordinary steel. Do not rub cleaning scourers across the grain. Do not use concentrated bleach or hydrochloric acid-based cleaning products. |
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| Finger prints and grease marks | Wash with mild detergent or dishwashing detergent, glass cleaner, alcohol or methylated spirits. Wash off with clean water and wipe over with a soft cloth or chamois. If desired, apply 3M Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish or other reputable brand of polish to reduce instances of stains re-appearing. | |||
| Tea and Coffee stains | Soak in a solution of boiling water and baking powder. Rinse well and wipe dry. | |||
| Sticky labels | Gentle heat with a hair drier will soften glue to make removal easier. Never scrape with a hard surface. Remove gum with eucalyptus oil followed by mild detergent. | |||
| Rust stains | Apply cream cleanser with a soft damp cloth, in direction of grain. For tough stains, a nylon scourer in the direction of the grain should remove stains. However, an unwanted change in lustre may occur especially on new surfaces. The coarser the abrasive, the more the lustre will change. Eventually these generally blend out with use. |
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| Hard water scale | Heavy limescale from hard water can be loosened by soaking in a hot water and 25% vinegar solution. Rinse well with a solution of baking powder or 1% ammonia and then with clean water wiping dry afterwards. | |||
| Balustrades and external fittings |
Wash down periodically with plenty of water and a soft cloth followed by a dry cloth or chamois. This will help to remove air borne irons and contaminants that cause staining. These stains can occur regardless of grade of stainless Steel. |
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| Professional polishing |
Deep scratches can usually only be removed by professional polishers. Un-trained removal usually results in disaster. Consult a firm experienced in polishing Stainless Steel. | |||
For a more detailed account on the history of Stainless Steel please follow the link – Stainless Steel Disclaimer Marko Stainless sources articles from ASSDA, ATLAS STEELS and various locations. We do not accept responsibility for the accuracy of the contents of this publication. Marko Stainless Steel Products. Please follow the link to view Our Company Profile – Stainless Steel Products |
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