When you happen to be in the jewellery making industry, you may have wondered about the differences between the many different types of steel. And in this industry, you must understand the small, unique differences between different steel varieties, such as surgical steel and stainless-steel chain necklace.

If you are a beginner, selecting the best material for a given application is a crucial step in any jewellery making project. In the case of metal materials, their characteristics and features will show up when they are cut, bent, punch-pressed, and otherwise processed.

In this article, we are taking an in-depth look at the main differences and similarities between surgical steel and stainless steel. If you are wondering how these steels are different or similar, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to get started.

What Is Stainless Steel?

Stainless steel is one of the four main types of steel (stainless, carbon, tool, alloy) that is mostly composed of iron and about 10% chromium. Small amounts of other metals (e.g. nickel, titanium, and copper) may also be present. Besides, carbon is a common non-metal additive in stainless steel.

Stainless steel’s chromium content is largely responsible for increasing the alloy’s corrosion resistance as it prevents the iron from oxidising. If there is no oxidation, there’s no opportunity for rust to develop.

Of the four main types of steel, stainless steel is known as the most corrosion-resistant. However, stainless steel is not entirely resistant to corrosion. Under certain conditions, like repeat exposure to highly concentrated salt water, stainless steel will corrode.

What Are the Main Categories of Stainless Steel?

While there are many different alloys of stainless steel, they can all be divided into three broad categories: martensitic, ferritic, and austenitic.

Martensitic Stainless Steels

The least common category of stainless-steel alloy is martensitic. Its corrosion resistance tends to be lower than the other categories. However, they are harder. Martensitic stainless-steel alloys are often ideal for applications requiring extraordinarily high tensile strength and impact resistance. When the said applications require corrosion resistance, these alloys may be used with a protective polymer coating.

Ferritic Stainless Steels

The second most common form of stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel is magnetic. Its nickel content is reduced, which is why it tends to be less expensive. If you want to harden this alloy, you can use cold working.

Austenitic Stainless Steels

Austenitic stainless steels are the most frequently used types of stainless steels. They tend to have higher chromium content than other steel alloys. This gives them a higher resistance to corrosion. Another significant characteristic of austenitic stainless-steel alloys is that they tend to be non-magnetic. There’s no doubt why many industries take advantage of this type of stainless, including the jewellery making industry.

Since austenitic is common in making black stainless-steel ball chain necklace, we are going to breakdown the numerous grades of stainless steel within this category.

Grade 304 Stainless Steel

Grade 304 is the most common variety of stainless steel. It is frequently used in making cutlery because of its versatility. This type of stainless steel is noteworthy for its high tensile strength, which is roughly 621 MPa (90 ksi). Like many other types of stainless steel, grade 304 has a high maximum operating temperature (about 870˚C).

With the combination of high tensile strength, temperature resistance, and corrosion resistance, grade 304 stainless steel is ideal for a wide variety of applications.

Grade 316, 316L, 316LVM Stainless Steels

Next to grade 304, grade 316 alloy is the second most commonly used austenitic alloy. It contains molybdenum than makes it more resistant to corrosion than 304.

Grade 316L is the low carbon variety of grade 316. Because it has low carbon content, grade 316L is immune to sensitisation (a type of corrosion that occurs when stainless steels reach high temperatures). With this property, grade 316L is commonly used in heavy gauge welded components.

Grade 316LVM goes through the intricate process of electric arc melting and vacuum arc remelting, which results in highly uniform chemistry that contains a minimal amount of impurities. Because of its lack of contaminants and high resistance to corrosion, grade 316LVM is commonly used in temporary and permanent medical implants and jewellery items.

What Is Surgical Steel?

A variety of stainless steel, surgical steel is used in biomedical applications. This surgical stainless steel has no formal definition. It might be helpful, however, to think of surgical steel as the most corrosion-resistant form of stainless steel.

The stainless-steel varieties designated for medical use are those with the greatest levels of corrosion resistance. Some commonly accepted types of surgical steel include grade 316 stainless of austenitic and grades 420 and 440 of martensitic.

Surgical Steel and Stainless Steel: Which Is Better?

Key Difference

The main difference between the two is that surgical steel is a type of stainless steel, but not all stainless steels are surgical steels. When talking about surgical steels, they have the greatest amount of corrosion resistance and are designated for biomedical applications. Surgical steel is the most expensive type of stainless steel.

Uses

Due to material expense, stainless steels differ from “general use” steels (e.g. carbon steel and tool steel). Stainless steel is often used to make cutlery, cookware, kitchen fixtures, and appliances. It is also used within the automotive and aerospace industries for various components and in some construction applications. It has also made its appearance in the jewellery making industry.

Conversely, the uses of surgical steel are relegated to biomedical applications. They are used to make surgical instruments such as forceps, retractors, and needle holders. But that’s not all! Surgical steel has a long and storied history of use in orthopaedic and dental implant devices.

Choosing the Best Steel for Your Application

By understanding the differences and similarities between the two different metal types, you can select the best material for your upcoming jewellery making project.

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