Stainless steel castings are widely used in the modern industrial production sector, due to their outstanding corrosion resistance and high temperature strength. Throughout Japan’s manufacturing industry, cast iron, aluminum and steel alloys are commonly used for equipment components, machine parts and structural components. The Japanese stainless steel casting grade numbers indicate the specific properties of the various alloys and their origins.
Japanese stainless steel castings generally use grades from the JIS standard or Standards of Japan’s Industrial Standard (JIS) numbering system, which is used throughout the country’s industrial and commercial sectors. The most common JIS grades include SCS14 (304), SCS16 (316) and SCS20 (303). SCS14 is the most widely used grade of stainless steel, as it provides excellent corrosion resistance, weldability and high strength. This grade is commonly used for kitchen equipment, medical equipment, automotive components, marine components and other corrosive materials.
SCS16 (316) is a higher grade stainless steel containing molybdenum and offers enhanced corrosion resistance compared to lower grades, making it a popular choice for coastal regions and any industrial application prone to salt water or acid attacks. Some of the many applications for SCS16 include desalination plants, food processing equipment, oil and gas platforms, tanks, wastewater treatments systems, pumps and valves.
SCS20 (303) is an austenitic grade with an additional element, nitrogen, which can enhance the corrosion and wear resistance. This grade also offers improved weldability and strength, and is commonly used in highly corrosive environments such as sewage treatment plants and chemical processing plants.
Stainless steel casting is also available in other grades such as SCS3L (400 series), SCS0.7, and SCS6. These grades differ in their chemical composition, resulting in higher or lower alloys. For instance, SCS0.7 contains more nickel and is more resistant to high temperatures than the other grades. SCS6 is a precipitation hardening grade with excellent wear resistance and relatively high strength at elevated temperatures, and is often used for components in aerospace, power generation and marine applications.
In addition to the Japanese Standard grades outlined above, domestic stainless steel casting grades such as SUY and HC also exist. SUY grade is a 30-9 stainless steel, alloyed with copper and provides excellent corrosion resistance and hardenability. The HC grade is a 30-8 stainless steel, alloyed with nitrogen, and is used in the medical and music industries due to its great corrosion resistance.
Overall, Japanese stainless steel casting grades give engineers a great opportunity to choose the best material for their applications, based on the combination of properties that suit their needs. The wide variety of grades available, means that the perfect alloy may be readily available. Ultimately, the right grade can enable precise parts to be made, as well as improve a product’s operational performance.
