Aug 15, 2024
Common Methods for Identifying and Using Stainless Steel
In the field of pharmaceutical equipment, stainless steel has become an indispensable material for its excellent corrosion resistance, good mechanical properties and easy cleaning and maintenance. However, in the face of a wide range of claimed stainless steel product equipment on the market, how to accurately identify its type and quality, to ensure the safe and efficient operation of pharmaceutical equipment, has become a skill that every purchaser must master. This paper will deeply discuss the classification and characteristics of stainless steel, and introduce three practical identification methods in detail, and analyze its advantages and disadvantages and application fields in pharmaceutical equipment. I.Overview of the classification and characteristics of stainless steel Stainless steel, as the name suggests, is a kind of alloy steel that is not easy to rust, mainly composed of iron, chromium, nickel and other elements. According to its different structure and chemical composition, stainless steel can be divided into austenitic stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, martensitic stainless steel, duplex stainless steel and precipitation hardening stainless steel and other categories. Austenitic stainless steel: mainly chromium-nickel alloy, with good corrosion resistance and processability, widely used in pharmaceutical equipment containers, pipelines and pump valves and other parts. Ferritic stainless steel: high chromium content, has good corrosion resistance and high temperature oxidation resistance, but the mechanical properties are relatively low, suitable for some occasions with low strength requirements. Martensitic stainless steel: high strength and hardness can be obtained through heat treatment, but corrosion resistance is relatively weak, often used in cutting tools, medical instruments and so on. Duplex stainless steel: a combination of austenitic and ferrite two-phase structure, with excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance, especially suitable for high corrosive environment. Precipitation hardening stainless steel: by adding copper, aluminum and other elements, and after specific heat treatment, to obtain high strength and good corrosion resistance, suitable for high-end precision manufacturing. II.Second, the identification of stainless steel 1. Magnetic test method Method description: The magnetic properties of stainless steel were used for identification. Austenitic stainless steel (such as 304, 316) is usually non-magnetic or weakly magnetic because it contains a high nickel element; Ferritic stainless steel and martensitic stainless steel have strong magnetic properties. The type of stainless steel can be initially determined by gently touching the material to be tested with a magnet and observing its adsorption. Example description: Hold a small magnet and touch different parts on the pharmaceutical equipment, such as liquid storage tanks (mostly austenitic stainless steel...
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