Stainless steels containing a good amount of chromium but without addition of nickel and other elements capable of forming austenite.
Stainless steel containing a good amount of Chromium (varying from 11 to 19 %), but without the added Nickel and other elements capable of forming austenite. It gets its name from the crystalline-ferritic micro-structure, the same as Iron at room temperature - and like Iron this steel range also presents magnetic characteristics at temperatures under 750 degrees C.
Ferritic steel has good price stability, since it is less susceptible to Nickel price fluctuations (traded daily on the LME). This price stability, combined with ever improving mechanical characteristics (in particular series 441, 445 etc.), has ensured this type of steel has a good share of end users. Examples of ferritic steel are: