Testing for grade confirmation

摘要

Raw material price fluctuations and increasing demand for stainless steels have driven demand for lower cost alloys as alternatives to the traditional "300" series steels. This has been met through a range of existing and new, innovative steels with different properties, performance and availability broadening the range of alloys that might be found in the market. But as with the traditional stainless steels you can't tell what they are by looking at them. This article describes most of the range of test methods available for grade confirmation. The method used depends on the budget, size of job and the potential consequences of having the wrong alloy.