Austenitic stainless steels contain a significant amount of chromium, and sufficient nickel or manganese to “stabilise” the austenite micro-structure that gives these steels good formability and ductility (and makes them non-magnetic). A typical composition is 18% chromium and about 8% nickel, as found in the popular 304 grade. Some 300 series stainless steels, such as the 316 grade, also contain molybdenum. This increases the material’s resistance to acids, pitting and crevice corrosion.
All austenitic grades can be highly durable and corrosion resistant and have high ductility, low yield stress, relatively high tensile strength and good weldability. As such, they have a very wide range of uses.
