Material Grade Characteristics Usage
Stainless Steel 303 Domestic and mild industrial environments
Corrosion resistance less than 304
Free machining grade
Stainless Steel 304 Resistant to oxidization and corrosion
Ease of fabrication and cleaning
Prevention of product contamination
Offer a variety of finishes and appearances
Stainless Steel 316 Durable, easy to fabricate, clean, weld and finish
Superior corrosion resistance
Stainless Steel 416 Parts that require extensive machining
Hardened to obtain maximum corrosion resistance
Highly resistant to acids
Stainless Steel 440 Able to be annealed and hardened
Heat Resistant
Easily machined in annealed state
Stainless Steel 465 Notch tensile strength
Combination of strength, toughness
and stress corrosion crack resistance
Stainless Steel 17-4 PH Higher magnesium than 304/306 Oxidization and corrosion resistant
Cold Rolled Steel 1018 Plain low carbon steel
Case harden only
Formability/Weldability
Cold Rolled Steel 12L14 Excellent machinability
Case harden only
Cold Rolled Steel 1215 Machinability
Heat treating
Kitchen equipment
Pressure Valves
Piping
Nuts
Bolts
Shafts Fittings
Heat exchangers
Boat fittings
Springs
Threaded fasteners
Valves
Pump shafts
Razor blades and cutlery
Precision pivot pins/rollers
Suspension coils
Engine valve springs
Aerospace products
Require both corrosion resistance and harness
Application requires strong welds
Commercial products
Used in turned machining
Close finish tolerance
Bright smooth finishes
Require considerable machining
Electronic hardware
Aircraft fittings
Marine fittings
Complex and detail products
High strength-to-weight ratio required
Plumbing products
Fittings
Adapters
Electrical contacts
General engineering
Automotive
Domestic appliances
High carbon, high chromium
Wear and abrasion resistant
Heat treatable
Form rolling
Knives
Shear blades
Punches
Chemical/petrochemical applications
Marine environments
Biomaterial applications
Combination of high strength, stiffness, toughness, low density and high corrosion resistance
420
Higher carbon version of 410/416
Can be hardened by heat treatment
Corrosion resistant
Dental and surgical instruments
Pump shafts
Gauges
455C
Corrosion resistance similar to 304
Stable during heat treat
Able to machine to close tolerances prior to aging
Strength requirements in corrosive environments
PEEK
Stiff
Outstanding resistance to harsh chemicals
Able to maintain stiffness at high temperatures
Aerospace parts
Medical instruments
Oil and gas
Semiconductors
Nylon
Strong, stiff engineering plastic
Outstanding bearing and wear properties
Light weight
Wear pads
Seals
Gaskets
Gears
Bearings and bushings
Aluminum
6061 T6
General purpose medium strength
Good formability
Contains magnesium and silicon
Aluminum
2011
Mechanical Strength
Excelled machining capability
Aluminum
2024
High strength
Fatigue resistant
Brass
360
Tensile strength
Yield strength
Elongation
Copper
C101
Oxygen-free electrical copper
High electrical conductivity
Corrosion resistant
Weak against acids and ammonia solutions
Tool Steel D2
Titanium CP2
Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel
Plastic
Plastic
