Ferritic and Martensitic Stainless Steels

Ferritic and Martensitic Stainless Steels

Less Common Stainless Steel Wire – but still useful for special applications

Ferritic Stainless Steel Wire

This type of stainless steel wire is so named because it has the same structure as Iron at room temperature.

These Stainless Steel wires have low work hardening rates and therefore do not develop high strength from cold working. However, Ferritic stainless steel wire provides moderate corrosion resistance and good formability.

Martensitic Stainless Steel Wire

The first stainless steels to be commercially developed, they are similar to plain carbon steels.

Martensitic stainless steel wire is magnetic and is generally formed in the annealed condition then heat treated. The strength generated depends on the carbon content: increasing carbon gives you a stronger stainless steel wire but at the expense of formability.