Stainless steel is a class of steel that has been chemically treated so as to resist rusting and corrosion. While it does not always do this perfectly, it is largely impervious to these considerations. However, there are dozens of different formulations of stainless steel. The steel is made from iron and an assortment of other metals that can be mixed in which it. It is then created using different processes.
The amount of other ingredients as well as the process can change the character of the steel. For example, adding more carbon to the steel makes it much harder and sharper, but it also means it will be more likely to break if you apply force to it. This type of steel is often used for tools that need to be very hard and/or sharp.
Aircraft Tubing
In contrast to those high-carbon steels, spring steel is a strong metal that can be bent. It has less carbon and more of the other ingredients that lend themselves to bending but not breaking. Therefore, it’s mainly used for springs and other applications that need to flex. The different compositions and processes lead to many different formulations of steel designated typically by a number. 410 stainless steel tubing is closer to a spring steel than a high-carbon steel.
410 Stainless
The stainless steel tubing most often used for engineering applications is 410 stainless steel tubing. This is a steel that is about 12% chromium, making it corrosion and heat resistant. It also is one of the most used of the hardenable stainless steels. It can be hardened to make it much more resistant to impact damage.
Such 410 stainless steel tubing is popular due to its heat resistance. It resists being warped or cracked even under high stress. However, it must first be annealed after welding to ensure its properties.
