Stainless steel is commonly found in many industries and environments; from workstations and appliances in industrial kitchens to medical devices and automotive applications.
But like all metal alloys, stainless steel comes in many types and grades. Stainless steel can be graded based on its chemical composition, above the alloy series, such as 300, 400, etc. These overall categories are known as austenitic, martensitic, and ferritic. In this article, we’ll explore austenitic stainless steel in more detail.
What is the difference between austenitic and martensitic stainless steel?
Austenitic Stainless Steel
Due to the presence of alloying elements, austenitic stainless steels have a face-centered cubic atomic structure, which means they are very tough and ductile enough to be bent and formed. Austenitic stainless steels have high levels of chromium and nickel.
Martensitic Stainless Steel
Martensitic stainless steels have a body-centered cubic atomic structure, are harder, and less ductile. This makes them ideal for making utensils such as knives and scrapers that require a sharp edge.