This section provides an overview for austenitic stainless steel as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 15 austenitic stainless steel manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked austenitic stainless steel companies as of November, 2024: 1.NIPPON STEEL Stainless Steel Corporation.
Table of Contents
Austenitic stainless steel is a general term for an alloy of stainless steel that has a crystal structure called austenite at room temperature.
It is classified as chromium-nickel stainless steel because it contains chromium and nickel in addition to iron as major components. The composition varies depending on the steel grade, but it is characterized by the presence of nickel as the main component to stabilize the austenite structure. It is the most commonly used material among stainless steel grades, and its production volume accounts for about 60% of all stainless steel.
In particular, SUS 304, a typical austenitic Stainless Steel, is used in a very wide range of applications, and SUS 316, an alloy of SUS 304 to which molybdenum is added, is another alloy with high corrosion resistance.
Austenitic stainless steel is used in a wide range of applications because it is generally non-magnetic and highly corrosion resistant, depending on the type of steel. Since austenitic stainless steels are not susceptible to loss of strength due to the external temperature environment and excel in welding and plastic working, they can be used in construction materials, plant equipment, and other applications where harsh conditions and reliability are required.
The most commonly used steel grade is SUS304. SUS305, which prevents work hardening, and SUS316, which offers improved corrosion resistance, are also widely used.
Austenitic stainless steel has excellent toughness and ductility, making it suitable for cold working and press forming. They have good weldability, exhibit high hardness by heat treatment, and have the highest corrosion resistance of all stainless steels. It is not magnetic.
The reason for its lack of magnetism is that its crystal structure is a face-centered cubic lattice. If the structure transforms to martensite during plastic working, it may become magnetic in rare cases.
Austenitic stainless steel cannot be quenched to increase its strength, but its properties can be changed by solution treatment, annealing, and stabilization. Solution heat treatment is used for almost all austenitic stainless steel. Solution heat treatment improves corrosion resistance, reduces sensitization, and eliminates work hardening when heated to high temperatures and then quenched.
The metallurgical structure of stainless steel is austenite at room temperature. In pure iron, austenite is formed only at high temperatures, while ferrite is formed at room temperature. When chromium is added to pure iron, the lowest temperature at which austenite is stable is approximately 830°C.
Ferrite-producing elements are those elements, such as chromium, that extend the temperature range of the stable existence of ferrite. The temperature range becomes smaller as chromium content increases above about 7%, and the stable existence temperature range of austenite eventually disappears as chromium content increases.
Elements that broaden the stable existence temperature region of austenite, such as nickel, are called austenite-producing elements. When nickel is added to pure iron, the austenite stable temperature range is broadened, with a minimum temperature of approximately 500°C at 30% nickel.
Austenitic stainless steel contains nickel and chromium and has higher corrosion resistance than other types of stainless steel. Localized corrosion such as pitting corrosion and intergranular corrosion may be a problem with SUS304, a typical austenitic stainless steel grade, but this can be addressed by changing the amount and type of additives. Specifically, SUS304L with a carbon content of 0.03% or less and SUS316 with molybdenum additives have higher corrosion resistance than SUS304.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Aichi Steel Corporation, established in Tokai, Aichi, in 1934, is a manufacturer engaged in special steels and materials for the Toyota Group. The company's product range includes Steel Bars and Rods, Structural Steel,Steel Pipes and Tubes. The company also manufactures materials other than steel, such as stainless steel, titanium and magnetic materials. In 2011 the company developed a magnet production technology using MAGFINE powder with 30% less alloy and established the Silicon Valley Office in the USA.
Nippon Steel is a general stainless steel manufacturer in Japan since 1998. The company manufactures steel materials, including sheets, coils, pipes, and various other forms. They cater to a diverse range of industries that benefit from stainless steel solutions. Some of the industries that extensively rely on Nippon Steel Stainless Steel Corporation's products include automotive, construction, oil and gas, manufacturing, and infrastructure development. Their stainless steel products find applications in automotive parts, architectural structures, pipelines, machinery, and equipment, among others.
Daido Steel Co., Ltd., originally founded in 1916 in Japan, is a manufacturer of alloy and tool steels. The company offers a wide range of products that include mechanical construction steels, superalloys used in engine components, welding wires, alloy powders, and permalloy foil. Daido Steel Co., Ltd.'s specialty steel products are used in the automotive parts, industrial machinery parts, electrical machinery parts, and welding markets. The company has diversified to include businesses in real estate, insurance, and the provision of welfare services and has expanded operations outside of Japan in North America, Asia, and Europe.
Sunning steel, founded in 2009 and located in Henan, China, is a manufacturer and supplier of stainless steel products. The company’s broad range of products includes stainless steel coil, stainless steel sheet, stainless steel plate, stainless steel seamless pipe, and stainless steel welded pipe. These products are used to create components, manufacture household appliances and medical equipment, transport fluids and gases, and perform structural and industrial applications. The company’s products cater to industries such as construction, automotive, kitchen equipment, oil and gas, and pharmaceuticals.
Qingdao Zhongxingao Import and Export Co., Ltd. Founded in 1993 and located in Qingdao, China, is a manufacturer and supplier of stainless steel plates and stainless steel pipes. The company offers a diverse range of products that include steel plate, steel pipe, square tube, round bar, and sheet pile. These products are used in the manufacturing of kitchen appliances, plumbing and water supply systems, building frames and support structures, controlling erosion, and providing structural support. The company caters to industries including construction, manufacturing, plumbing, chemical processing, and infrastructure development.
Outokumpu, in Helsinki, Finland, in 1932 is a manufacturer of stainless steel. The company's product portfolio includes Cold rolled coil strips and sheets, Hot rolled coil strips and plates, Quarto plates, Precision strips and Specialized components. The company serves industries such as Oil and Gas, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Construction, and Power Generation. They have production facilities in Finland, Germany, Mexico, Sweden, the UK and US and global distrubution and sales channels.
Luoyang Sunrui Wanji Titanium Industry Co., Ltd, founded in 2013 and located in Henan, China, is a manufacturer of titanium material. The company’s diverse range of products includes titanium sponge, titanium ingot, titanium sheet, titanium tube, and titanium pipe. These products are used for implants and surgical instruments, forging and machining components, manufacturing aircraft structural components, and transporting and processing corrosive substances. The company caters to industries such as aerospace, automotive, chemical processing, and medical. The company is AS 9100 certified for its quality management system during the complete production procedure.
Hunan Hualiu New Materials Co., Ltd, founded in 2003 and located in Hunan Province, China, is a manufacturer of gas-atomized alloy powder. The company’s range of products includes soft magnetic powder, stainless steel powder, high-temperature alloy powder, titanium-based powder, and cobalt-based powder. These powders find use in industries such as electrical components, corrosion-resistant parts, aerospace, and medical devices. The company’s products are used due to its diverse properties, like magnetic characteristics, corrosion resistance, high-temperature stability, and mechanical strength, and is also ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and RoHS certified.
JIADE Steel Pipe, located in Xi’an, China and established in 1991, is a manufacturer of steel pipe and special steel. The company produces steel pipes, seamless steel tubes, and insulated and coated piping. It also manufactures special steel, stainless steel, steel pipe fittings, and aluminum alloys. The basic function of pipes is to convey substances that can flow like fluids or powders. The company possesses ISO 9001:2015 certification, indicating its quality management system has been excellent.
Liaoning EO Technology Co., Ltd is a manufacturer of various types of aluminum products, established in 2002 and based in Shenyang, China. The company produces aluminum foils, aluminum extrusion furniture profiles, aluminum office workstation partitions, and aluminum auto parts. It also offers aluminum machinery parts, aluminum precision forging auto parts, stainless steel wire ropes, and nickel-based alloys. Its aluminum products have high fire and explosion-proof resistance properties and their weights are also light.
World Iron&Steels, founded in 2009 and based in Baqiao District, China, is a supplier, manufacturer, and distributor of semi-finished and finished stainless steel products. The company offers a range of products, such as stainless steel coiled tubes, stainless steel square tubes, stainless steel u-bend tubes, stainless steel angle tubes, and stainless steel capillary tubes. These products are applicable in industries like construction, manufacturing, automotive, heat exchangers, medical devices, and more, owing to stainless steel's corrosion resistance and durability.
Wenzhou SUNRISE, founded in 1998 and located in Wenzhou City, China, is a steel trader and supplier of steel products. The company’s broad range of products includes seamless steel pipe, welded steel pipe, ball valves, butterfly valves, and flanges. These products are utilized in industries such as oil and gas, chemical engineering, water treatment, manufacturing, and environmental protection. The company’s products are used in fluid transport, flow control, and structural applications.
Gnee Steel Group was founded in 2008 and headquartered in Henan, China, as a steel plate, coil, profile, outdoor landscape design, and processing supplier. Gnee is emerging as an international steel supply chain corporation in the central plains region of China, characterized by a well-defined framework, an integrated governance structure, a solid managerial foundation, ample financial resources, and a highly skilled workforce. The utilization of rust technology has garnered recognition from numerous projects, hence establishing GNEE as a known corporation in the Asian region.
Shanghai Bozhong Metal Group, founded in 2006 and located in Shanghai, China, is a supplier of metal products. The company offers a range of products that include alloy steel, stainless steel, alloy steel bras, and aluminum alloy. These products are used for the metal's resistance to corrosion and staining, durability, production of machinery parts, and construction of structural elements. The company’s products cater to industries such as construction, manufacturing, automotive, and aerospace.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | NIPPON STEEL Stainless Steel Corporation |
100.0%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the austenitic stainless steel page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
China | 9 | 60.0% |
Japan | 4 | 26.7% |
Finland | 1 | 6.7% |
Chna | 1 | 6.7% |