Chemical Composition
• Low Nickel, High Manganese: 200 series stainless steel strip belongs to the chromium-manganese austenitic stainless steel family. Its nickel content is low, generally not exceeding 5.5%. It is partially replaced by elements such as manganese and nitrogen, resulting in a higher manganese content.
• Adequate Chromium: Chromium is one of the key elements that contribute to the corrosion resistance of stainless steel. The chromium content of 200 series stainless steel is typically around 16%-18%.
Performance
• Corrosion Resistance: It exhibits moderate corrosion resistance in atmospheric and freshwater environments, but its corrosion resistance is significantly inferior to that of 300 series stainless steel in environments containing chloride ions or with strong acidity.
• Strength and Hardness: Due to the solid solution strengthening effect of manganese and nitrogen, it exhibits high strength and hardness, making it suitable for components bearing heavy loads.
• Processing: Compared to 300 series stainless steel, processing is more difficult. During welding, heat input must be carefully controlled to avoid problems such as weld cracking. Furthermore, processing operations such as stamping and forming are relatively limited.
Advantages
• Price Advantage: Due to its low nickel content and the relatively low cost of elements like manganese, 200 series stainless steel is significantly cheaper than 300 series stainless steel, offering significant advantages in cost-sensitive applications.
• Applicability in Mildly Corrosive Environments: 200 series stainless steel strip generally meets the requirements for mildly corrosive environments, such as interior decoration and general household items, and can replace 304 stainless steel.
Disadvantages
• Limited Corrosion Resistance: 200 series stainless steel strip is susceptible to corrosion in highly corrosive environments, such as at seaside locations and in chemical production, resulting in a shorter service life.
• Difficulty in Scrap Recycling: Scrap recycling can easily result in excessive manganese content in the resulting castings, leading to unstable feedstock composition in the steel mill.
Applications
• Architectural Decoration: 200 series stainless steel strip is used in door and window frames, stair railings, decorative moldings, and other applications, such as exterior decoration of commercial buildings and interior partitions.
• Household Goods: 200 series stainless steel strip can be used to make tableware, kitchenware, washing machine liners, refrigerator accessories, and other products, including stainless steel cutlery and kitchen sinks. • Transportation field: In automobile manufacturing, it can be used for automobile interior parts, body structural parts, etc., such as automobile door handles, seat frames, etc.