STAINLESS STEEL MAGAZINE - ISSUE 1 - MARCH 2026

case study

10 000

6661

2228

1030

1 000

164

100

94

17

10

5.2

1

1.5

1

Mild Steel

Corten

Zinc

Copper AA 3103 3CR12 SS430 SS304 SS316

Average

Mild Steel

Corten

Zinc

Copper

AA 3103 3CR12 SS430 SS304 SS316

Severe Marine

245.33

75.03

11.72

2.86 4.16 1.14 1.71 0.87 1.85 0.60 1.88

2.22 0.48 0.58 0.38 0.45 0.29 0.03 0.63

1.518 0.716 0.152 0.817 0.153 0.036 0.001 0.485

0.251 0.095 0.050

0.047 0.021 0.009

0.032 0.017 0.003 0.020 0.005

Aggressive Marine

98.34 43.05 24.45 31.45 17.54

118.68 72.85

Industrial Marine

25.10 16.05 13.82 12.54

2.35 5.82 3.12 1.51 0.32

Medium Marine

Marine

0.053 0.012 0.000 0.007

0.048

Inland Industrial

Rural

5.35

2.99

0.000 0.025

0.000 0.013

Average

66.50

37.74

13.96

Theoretical comparisons This graph shows the relative life span of various materials compared under the same functional conditions. Carbon steel is the base for the comparison. As an example, this would indicate that in conditions where mild steel would last one year, grade 3CR12 would last an estimated 164 years. The table shows the result of corrosion tests done on various materials under various corrosive conditions. The bottom row shows the average over the range of conditions. For example, under severe marine conditions, grade 316 will suffer a material loss of 0.032% per year whilst 3CR12 will an estimated 1.518% loss over the same period. Conclusion It is important to ensure that that when working with stainless steel grade selection, the application and the operational conditions are well defined. This will assist in selecting the grades that might be suitable for the application. Corrosion rates on stainless steel are determined

by alloy composition, surface finish and condition, availability of environmental oxygen, level of chlorides, solution strength and temperature. When all the information on the application is available Iso-corrosion diagrams can be used to narrow down the list of potential suitable grades. It is then advisable to do a physical test on samples of the shortlist of alloys under the operational conditions to make a final decision.

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Issue 1 – 2026

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