How much chromium is found in stainless steel?

Stainless steel is a family of alloy steels that typically contains between 10 and 30 percent chromium. This chromium content is essential for imparting resistance to corrosion and heat by allowing a protective film of chromic oxide to form on the steel's surface.12

The specific amount of chromium varies depending on the grade and classification of the stainless steel:

• Austenitic steels: Contain 16 to 26 percent chromium. The common 304 grade (18/8) contains 18 percent chromium.1
• Ferritic steels: Contain 10.5 to 27 percent chromium.1
• Martensitic steels: Typically contain 11.5 to 18 percent chromium.1
• Duplex stainless steels: Contain 21 to 27 percent chromium.1
• Precipitation-hardening stainless steel: Contains 15 to 17.5 percent chromium.1

To maintain these properties during manufacturing, processes like argon-oxygen decarburization are used to remove carbon without oxidizing and losing the chromium.1