Core
The Core range austenitics are highly formable and weldable, which make them suitable for everything from cutlery to storage tanks. In addition, ferritic stainless steels have a good formability and are widely used by appliance makers.
Our Core range austenitic stainless steels can be readily formed by all cold forming methods and share common forming properties, such as excellent stretch formability, a high work-hardening rate as well as an average strain ratio r of approximately 1.
Core range ferritic stainless steel forming properties are similar to those of low alloyed carbon steels. Their deep drawability is comparable to that of deep drawing quality carbon steels.
A wide variety of surface finishes are available for Core range products. Many are produced at the mill, and other surface finishes can be applied later during processing either at a service center or after fabrication.
Due to their high toughness and work hardening behavior, austenitic steels are more difficult to machine than carbon steels but are still comparatively easy to machine compared to more highly alloyed stainless-steel grades. They require higher cutting forces than carbon steels, show resistance to chip breaking, and have a high tendency to built-up edge formation. The best machining results are obtained by using high-power equipment, sharp tooling, and a rigid set-up.
Low interstitial levels and added stabilizers have made enormous improvements to the welding characteristics of ferritic stainless steels. In addition, due to their lower thermal expansion and higher thermal conductivity, distortion and buckling is much lower during welding compared to austenitic or duplex stainless steels.