[no subject]

As for the elements in stainless steel, the presence of chromium from 11-26%
is really what defines a stainless steel.  Yes, some stainless steels have
nickel, in lesser amounts than the chromium, but some also have none.
Carbon and manganese also vary.  Silicon, phosphorus, and sulfur are
generally constant.  Copper, molybdenum, and nitrogen are generally the only
other occasional alloying elements of any appreciable amounts.  Yes, some
are magnetic and some are not.  

There are 5 groups of stainless steels, ferritic, martensitic, austenitic,
duplex, and precipitation-hardenable.  The first three are common, with
austenitic the most common, and are divided by the type of microstructure
each has.  The microstructure is the structure the of the metal when viewed
under the microscope.  The last two are specialty stainless steels and are
less commonly used.  The properties of the steel are dependent on the
composition and heat treatment/processing.  

Stainless steel itself cannot be colored.  It has a melting point in excess
of 2500 degrees Fahrenheit.  Colored metals are only colored on the surface
by a secondary process or application of a coating.      

Doug Bailey
Metallurgical Engineer
Textron Lycoming


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