Stainless Steel Forgings

Stainless Steel Forgings

Stainless steel is a type of iron alloy that contains more than 10.5% chromium. Stainless steels often also contain nickel, manganese and/or molybdenum as additional alloying elements. Stainless steel is known primarily for its excellent resistance to the corrosion, staining and rusting that can afflict many metals, including carbon steel. In the presence of oxygen, the chromium content in stainless steel produces an invisible passivation layer that is impervious to air and water, protecting the metal and preserving its luster. Stainless steel forgings also offer high strength, excellent wear, low maintenance and an ability to withstand high temperatures; it is stable under high stress in temperatures up to 1250°F, and in low stress up to 1800°F. Stainless steel forgings are available in a variety of shapes, from simple rods, bars and profiles to complex custom parts. Due to their high strength and stability, stainless steel forgings have useful applications in many industries, including the chemical, food processing, petroleum, transportation, marine, material handling, hospital services, aerospace and defense industries.

The stainless steel forging process gives the metal a dense, sophisticated structure that enhances the strength and mechanical properties of the steel. Most often stainless steel forgings are created by heating a preformed piece of stainless steel and then using a large closed die or open die forging hammer or press that forces the workpiece to take the shape of the die(s). Unlike in casting, the metal is never melted or poured; instead the forging process uses tremendous pressure to cause the metal to flow into the desired shape. Often the forging process proceeds gradually through numerous strikes, and it may require an operator to move the workpiece through a series of impression cavities. A variety of equipment can be used to forge stainless steel. Drop forge equipment utilizes a massive drop-hammer that falls from above on the workpiece as it rests on a stationary anvil. In counterblow machines, both the hammer and the anvil move horizontally to impact the workpiece that is held between them. Forging presses use mechanical or hydraulic force to apply continuous pressure over the course of a number of seconds; the stroke time is much slower than in drop forging, but in most cases only one pressing is required per part. Whatever the particular forging method, stainless steel forgings make high-integrity and cost-effective components suitable for demanding applications.

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