Question

Name the constituents of stainless steel.

Answer 1

1. Alloys

Alloys are obtained by cooling a homogenous liquid mixture of elements. One of the constituents of an alloy will always be a metal and the other ones can be metals or non-metals. The formation of an alloy changes the physical and chemical properties of the constituent elements and therefore, alloys have wide applications. The properties of an alloy depend on the elements used to form it.

For example, Brass is an alloy of Copper $\left(\mathrm{Cu}\right)$ and Zinc $\left(\mathrm{Zn}\right)$ and it is used for making cooking utensils, ornaments, sheets, pipes, etc.

2. Stainless steel

Stainless steel is an alloy made up of Iron $\left(\mathrm{Fe}\right)$, Carbon $\left(\mathrm{C}\right)$, Chromium $\left(\mathrm{Cr}\right)$ and Nickel $\left(\mathrm{Ni}\right)$. Iron is the major constituent of stainless steel making up 73% of the alloy. Chromium makes up 18% of the alloy and Nickel is 8%. The percentage of Carbon in the alloy is 1%.

Stainless steel is used to make knife blades, food machinery, kitchen pots, automobile parts and laundry machines.