Omar Felipe Ramirez Martinez-201710022602

Introduction

As we know, stainless steel is characterized by its high resistance to corrosion, which is why this
alloy of steel and chromium is widely used in large-scale industries and in our environment is often
present in different constructions or buildings.
Due to their wide range of mechanical, physical and chemical properties, ferrous metals and alloys
are among the most useful of all metals. They contain iron as a base metal and their general
categories are carbon and alloy steels, stainless steels, matrix and tool steels, irons and cast steels.
Stainless steel was invented by Harry Brearley (1871-1948), who had at an early age, 12, started
working as a steelworker in his home town of Sheffield, England. In 1912, Brearley began to
investigate, at the request of gun manufacturers, an alloy that presented greater resistance to wear
than that experienced so far by the inside of the cannons of small firearms as a result of the heat
released by the gases. Looking for a metal that would resist erosion, Brearley found a corrosion-
resistant metal. His invention was of no immediate interest and was intended for the manufacture of
cutlery.

Objectives
General:
 Understand the use of steel since its creation and its applications today.

Specific:
 Understand the behavior of stainless steel for different uses today.
 To understand the corrosion of steel and its forms of prevention.
 Understand its importance as engineering material

Orientative Questions:

1. What are the main challenges facing the steel industry today?

Its biggest challenge is to face not only a drop in consumption levels but also a growing
volume of imports at very low prices is exposed in such a way:
On the one hand, the importation of corrugated bars that do not have quality control and
can therefore put at risk the earthquake-resistance of the constructions, and, on the other
hand, the importation of products that do not pay the corresponding customs duties, and
that additionally come from countries that subsidize the production of steel or make
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dumping, and therefore compete in unfair conditions. Although consumable manufacturers

must follow the lead in steelmaking in the formulation of new alloys, there have been
significant improvements in consumables design, both in terms of weldability and control
of residual elements. Weldability has always been, and will continue to be, an important
aspect in stainless steel development. The range of potential applications for a new grade of
steel is definitely smaller if welding is a problem, or if suitable welding consumables are
not available.

2. What are the types of stainless steel?

- Ferritic stainless steel: It has properties similar to mild steel, but with better corrosion
resistance due to the addition of typically 11-17% chromium.
- Martensitic grades: Can be hardened by quenching and tempering as simple carbon steels.
They have moderate corrosion resistance and typically contain 11-13% chromium with a
higher carbon content than ferritic grades.
- Hardened stainless steels: By precipitation they can be strengthened by heat treatment.
Any martensitic or austenitic precipitation hardening structures can be produced.
- Duplex stainless steels: Have a mixed structure of austenite and ferrite. Modern grades are
alloyed with a combination of nickel and nitrogen to produce a partially austenitic reticular
structure and improve corrosion resistance.
- Austenitic stainless steels: They have a nickel content of at least 7%, which makes the
steel austenitic and provides ductility, a large scale service temperature, non-magnetic
properties and good weldability. This is the most widely used group of stainless steels used
in numerous applications.

3. What forms of corrosion will you see in stainless steel?

Metals may react with some type of air pollutant or with oxygen.
which causes an electrochemical oxidation, is very
propensity in steels and produces iron oxides
mainly.
Corrosion modifies the physical-chemical properties of steels and promotes their deterioration.
which sometimes has fatal consequences.
Many structural steel alloys are corroded simply by exposure to moisture.
in the air, but the process can be strongly
 Omar Felipe Ramirez Martinez-201710022602

affected by exposure to certain polluting substances.

4. Share information about each type of corrosion, include some examples that happen in
the industry
There are five risks that threaten the success of the use of stainless steels. These are: intergranular
corrosion, corrosion by galvanic effect, contact corrosion, corrosion in the form of pitting or pin
pricks, and fatigue corrosion. Many failures can be avoided by simply realizing the risks involved
and taking appropriate measures to eliminate them.

 Intergranular corrosión:
Inadequate heat treatment of stainless steel can produce a carbide grid in steels with more than 0.03
percent carbon, or without the addition of titanium or columbium. Metal containing such a grid is
susceptible to intergranular corrosion which may cause failure in very corrosive conditions and
reduce service life in many relatively light services. Normal welding procedures introduce into the
metal the susceptibility to precipitation of carbides. The fact that steel is susceptible to intergranular
corrosion does not necessarily mean that it will be attacked by it. In service, the result can be
satisfactory. But the possibility of intergranular corrosion must be taken into account, provided that
it is not excluded according to previous experience. Carbide precipitation can be eliminated by one
of the three procedures listed below:
a) By annealing: once the processing and welding operations are finished, the steel must be heated
to a temperature high enough to dissolve the carbides, which is generally between 1036 ºC and 1150
ºC, and then cooled quickly enough to prevent the carbide from precipitating again, using a jet of air
or water. A heat treatment located in the area immediately adjacent to the weld does not give
satisfactory results. For effective annealing, the entire part should be heated and properly cooled
quickly.
(b) Using steel containing less than 0,03 % carbon.
c) Using a stabilized steel: titanium or columbium are combined with carbon and avoid harmful
precipitations. Stabilized steels are necessary for any service involving prolonged exposure to
temperatures between 426º C and 871 ºC.
The danger inherent in chromium carbide precipitation has become so well known and so easily
avoided that few failures occur due to this cause.
 Omar Felipe Ramirez Martinez-201710022602

 Galvanic corrosión:

Galvanic corrosion exerts a localized action that can occur when a joint between two dissimilar
metals is submerged in a solution that can act as an electrolyte. In a corrosive medium, the two
different metals form short-circuited electrodes and form an electrochemical cell. This results in the
dissolution of the anodic electrode, while the cathode remains unchanged.

Corrosion is often attributed to galvanic action when its true cause is effectively due to abnormal
operating conditions. For example, the use of hydrochloric acid to replace a normal cleaning
material can destroy the passive film of the stainless steel. In such a case, a galvanic cell can be
formed, which will start operating as soon as the part in question becomes functional. Re-designing
and rebuilding a part that is completely made of stainless steel can be very expensive and the new
part can be difficult to manufacture. So, when galvanic action appears to be the only cause of a
malfunction in a unit that has been shown to be of good design, a thorough check should be made to
ensure that all operating conditions are normal.

 Contact corrosion

The third risk is contact corrosion. A tiny particle of carbon steel, a flake of oxide, copper or other
foreign substance any embedded in the stainless steel may be sufficient to destroy passivity at the
point of contact. The attack begins with the formation of a galvanic cell with the particle of foreign
material as the anode. While the electrochemical action dissolving the contamination lasts,
hydrogen ions are released causing the stainless steel to become active at the point of contact. The
pitting action can continue after the foreign particle has been removed by forming an active-passive
cell between the tiny anodic surface attacked and the large surrounding cathodic area. When the
stainless sections come into service they should be free of scales of rust, oil, small metal particles
from tools, dies and rows, as well as any foreign material. Contact corrosion can begin long after
the part is in service if the cleaning methods used are not meticulous. Rust and dirt in steam pipes,
tools impregnated with carbon steel, and even dirty transport equipment can lead to contact
corrosion creating substances up to stainless steel containers during a cleaning period. Clean,
smooth surfaces and the absence of scratches and cracks reduce the risk of contact corrosion.

 Puncture or corrosion in the form of a pin prick

Solutions containing chlorides may be attacked by a pitting action, and galvanic cells may develop
in the pitting. Damage due to this pitting is also called pin pricks caused by corrosion. Acid
chlorides such as ferric chloride and sodium chloride are particularly dangerous, but any chloride in
appreciable concentration may be the possible cause of disturbances. Generally the failures of
stainless steel in a medium supposedly safe from corrosion are attributable to the presence of the
chloride ion at a higher concentration than foreseeable.
 Omar Felipe Ramirez Martinez-201710022602

The molybdenum contained in types 316 and 317 increases the resistance to pitting. These alloys
are subject to damage due to fatigue corrosion, so the vessels should be as stress-free as possible.
Cracks, fissures and pockets of stagnation must be eliminated as clean and well maintained surfaces
are those that best resist pitting, whatever the quality of the stainless steel.

 Fatigue corrosión:

Fatigue corrosion is another risk that must be eliminated. Almost all metals and alloys, including
stainless austenitic steel, can fail to crack or crack due to fatigue corrosion under conditions
involving applied stresses or residual stresses combined with mildly corrosive agents. Chloride
solutions are most detrimental in causing cracking of austenitic stainless steels.
Strong and weak relationships in the same element produce a condition that can easily lead to
fatigue corrosion in the presence of chlorides. A number of failures due to perforated plates have
been investigated. Lightning cracks starting from the drill holes are typical of fatigue corrosion
cracking. Canadian producers have solved this problem completely by thoroughly annealing the
plates after drilling.

5. What are the factors that matter for choosing stainless Steel?
The factors that matter when choosing some type of stainless steel go hand in hand with some
mechanical properties such as they are:
 weldability
 corrosion resistance
 oxidation resistance
 low temperature resistance
 cold deformability
 ductility
 malleability
 resilience

Conclusions

It is understood that the main characteristic of stainless steel is its high resistance to atmospheric
oxidation. Its hygienic and aesthetic properties also make stainless steel an attractive material to
meet various types of needs of today's industry, as is the case of our equipment that we use very
often.
 Omar Felipe Ramirez Martinez-201710022602

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