What is Precipitation Hardened Stainless Steel?
Precipitation hardened stainless steel is a type of stainless steel that has been heat treated to increase its strength and hardness. Heat treatment involves austenitizing the steel (heating it to more than 800°C), quenching it to room temperature, and then aging it at temperatures of between 400 and 1300°C. The heat treatment causes chromium, nickel and molybdenum atoms to form small intermetallic precipitates within the metal, which harden it and increase its strength and hardness. Precipitation hardened stainless steels are usually more expensive than other stainless steels, but their superior strength and hardness make them an ideal material for use in high performance applications.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a globally recognized organization that sets internationally agreed upon standards for a wide range of goods and services. ISO has published two standards that apply to precipitation hardened stainless steel: ISO 9001 and ISO 15156.
ISO 9001 is an international standard for quality management systems, which establishes requirements for organizations engaged in the development, manufacture, installation and servicing of goods and services. As part of this standard, organizations must demonstrate that their systems are based on their customer needs and regularly monitor their performance with the goal of improving it. Precipitation hardened stainless steel must be produced in accordance with the requirements of ISO 9001 in order to be considered high quality.
ISO 15156 is an international standard that sets requirements for the production of corrosion-resistant stainless steels. This standard defines the chemical and physical properties of stainless steels designed to resist corrosion in specific environments. It also establishes requirements for the production of these steels, including the manufacturing process, heat treatment, and testing procedures. To ensure that a precipitation hardened stainless steel meets ISO 15156s stringent requirements, the production process must be carefully monitored and controlled in order to maintain consistent quality.
Precipitation hardened stainless steel is an ideal material for use in high-performance applications where superior strength and corrosion resistance are required. In order to ensure that a precipitation hardened stainless steel meets the standards set by ISO 9001 and ISO 15156 for quality and corrosion resistance, manufacturers must adhere to a strict process for production and heat treatment. When this process is followed, the resulting precipitation hardened stainless steel is guaranteed to meet the highest industry standards and provide optimal performance in a wide variety of applications.