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The Difference between Martensitic Stainless Steel And Austenitic Stainless Steel

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Martensitic stainless steel and austenitic stainless steel are two common types of stainless steel. They differ significantly in chemical composition, microstructure, performance characteristics and application areas.


  1. Chemical composition


Martensitic stainless steelAustenitic stainless steel
Main IngredientsFe, Cr, CFe, Cr, Ni
Cr %11.5%-18%16%-26%
C %0.1%-1.2%≤0.08%
Ni %/6%-22%
Other %Mo, MnMo, Ti, N


2. Microstructure

6. 


Martensitic stainless steelAustenitic stainless steel
Crystal structureBCTFCC
FormationFormation of martensitic structure by rapid cooling (quenching)Stabilizing the austenite structure by adding elements such as nickel
MagneticMagneticNon-magnetic (may become weakly magnetic after cold working)


3. Performance characteristics


Martensitic stainless steelAustenitic stainless steel
Strength and hardnessHigh strength, high hardnessLower strength and lower hardness
ToughnessLow toughness, easy to crackHigh toughness and good ductility
Corrosion resistanceModerate corrosion resistanceHigh corrosion resistance
Wear resistance

Good wear resistance

Average wear resistance
Heat treatabilityProperties can be adjusted by quenching and temperingCannot be strengthened by heat treatment
Welding performancePoor welding performance, prone to cracksGood welding performance


4.Typical grades

Martensitic stainless steel: 420J1, 420J2, 420U6, 1.4031, 1.4034, 1.4116, 440A, 440B

Austenitic stainless steel: 301, 304, 304L, 316, 316L, 321


5. Application Areas


Martensitic stainless steel: mainly used for knives, medical equipment, turbine blades, bearings and wear-resistant parts. It is widely used in industry and manufacturing due to its high hardness and good wear resistance.


Austenitic stainless steel: mainly used in food processing, chemical equipment, architectural decoration, medical equipment, aerospace and other fields, and is widely used due to its excellent corrosion resistance and good machinability.


6. Heat treatment and processing



Martensitic stainless steelAustenitic stainless steel
Heat treatmentProperties can be adjusted by quenching and temperingCannot be strengthened by heat treatment
Cold processingPoor cold forming performance and easy to crackGood cold forming properties
MachiningCutting is difficult and requires the use of carbide toolsGood cutting performance


In short, martensitic stainless steel is suitable for scenarios with high strength, high hardness and high wear resistance requirements, while austenitic stainless steel is suitable for scenarios with high corrosion resistance and high toughness requirements.

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