What Is Stainless Steel?
Duplex
Duplex stainless steel plate contains relatively high levels of chromium (between 18% and 28%) and low to moderate amounts of nickel (between 1.5% and 8%). The high corrosion resistance and excellent mechanical properties of duplex stainless steels can be attributed to their chemical composition and balanced (duplex) microstructure of approximately equal volume percentages of ferrite and austenite.
LDX 2101® is a low nickel, nitrogen-enhanced lean duplex stainless steel with corrosion resistance similar to 304 but with much higher mechanical strength. This enables it to be used in thinner cross-sections which provide cost savings to the end user. Alloys 2304 and 2205 are the most common grades. They both exhibit outstanding resistance to chloride stress-corrosion cracking.
“Super” duplex grades have enhanced pitting and crevice corrosion resistance when compared with 300-series austenitic stainless steels or conventional duplex alloys. This can be attributed to the enhanced levels of chromium, molybdenum and nitrogen found in these materials. Alloy 2507 is the most common “super” duplex grade.
