Stainless Steel

With the addition of 11% or more chromium to steel, the alloy becomes non-staining under most conditions that corrode plain steel, thus the term stainless is applied.

Non-Magnetic Alloys
Alloys containing chromium and nickel are not magnetic in the annealed condition although they become slightly magnetic when cold worked.

Type 304
Often referred to as "18-8" (18% chromium, 8% nickel) T-304 is the basic stainless alloy most commonly utilized for wire cloth weaving. It withstands outdoor exposure without rusting and resists oxidation at an elevated temperature up to 1400 Degrees Fahrenheit.
Typical wire cloth applications include use with chemicals, food products, pharmaceuticals and exposure to moisture.

Type 304 L
Type 304 L is very similar to T-304, the difference being the reduced carbon content for better weaving and secondary welding characteristics.

Type 309
A heat resistant alloy (23% chromium, 12% nickel) which is useful in temperatures up to 1700 Degrees Fahrenheit.

Type 310
Retains good strength and toughness at high temperatures and may be used to advantage where a combination of strength, toughness and oxidation resistance is essential. Where reducing or carburizing conditions are encountered at high temperatures, T-310 is preferred. 
Type 310 has a coefficient of expansion slightly lower than most other chromium - nickel alloys. 

Type 316
Stabilized by the addition of 2% molydbenum, T-316 is an "18-8" alloy.
Type 316 has better resistance to pitting corrosion than the other chromium-nickel stainless steels where brines, sulphur-bearing water or halogen salts, such as chlorides are present. A valuable property of T-316 is high creep strength at elevated temperatures. Other mechanical properties and fabricating characteristics are similar to T-304.
Wire cloth woven of T-316 has extensive use in chemical processing when better corrosion resistance is required than the regular chromium-nickel types. 

Type 316 L
Type 316 L is very similar to T-316, the difference being the reduced carbon content for better wire cloth weaving and secondary welding characteristics.

Type 317
Similar to the basic alloy (18% chromium) but with a higher nickel (14%) and molydbenum (3%) content for increased corrosion resistance.

Type 321
Has titanium added to reduce or eliminate chromium carbide precipitation resulting from welding or exposure to high temperatures. It is quite effective as a stabilizer although the over-all corrosion resistance is somewhat reduced.
Type 321 wire mesh is normally used where secondary welding processes are not required.

Type 330
Similar to Incoloy, T-330 is a nickel-chromium alloy (35% nickel, 15% chromium) used for heat treating baskets suitable for temperatures up to 1650 ? Fahrenheit.

Type 347
Similar on analysis to Type 321 except that columbium is used as an addition instead of titanium. Columbium is an effective stabilizer and does not appreciably reduce the over-all corrosion resistance as does titanium.
Wire cloth woven of Type 347 is used when secondary welding procedures are required, in applications subject to corrosive environments.

Chemical composition of stainless steel wire: