200 Series—austenitic chromium-nickel-manganese alloys

300 Series—austenitic chromium-nickel alloys

• Type 301—highly ductile, for formed products. Also hardens rapidly during mechanical working. Good weldability. Better wear resistance and fatigue strength than 304.
  
  
• Type 302—same corrosion resistance as 304, with slightly higher strength due to additional carbon.
  
  
• Type 303—easier machining version of 304 via addition of sulfur and phosphorus. Also referred to as "A1" in accordance with International Organization for Standardization ISO 3506
  
  
• Type 304—the most common grade; the classic 18/8 stainless steel. Also referred to as "A2" in accordance with International Organization for Standardization ISO 3506.
  
  
• Type 309— better temperature resistance than 304
  
  
• Type 316—the second most common grade (after 304); for food and surgical stainless steel uses; Alloy addition of molybdenum prevents specific forms of corrosion. Also known as "marine grade" stainless steel due to its increased resistance to chloride corrosion compared to type 304. SS316 is often used for building nuclear reprocessing plants. Most watches that are made of stainless steel are made of this grade. Rolex is an exception in that they use Type 904L. 18/10 stainless often corresponds to this grade. Also referred to as "A4" in accordance with International Organization for Standardization ISO 3506.
  
  
• Type 321— similar to 304 but lower risk of weld decay due to addition of titanium. See also 347 with addition of niobium for desensitization during welding.

400 Series—ferritic and martensitic chromium alloys

Type 408—heat-resistant; poor corrosion resistance; 11% chromium, 8% nickel.

• Type 409—cheapest type; used for automobile exhausts; ferritic (iron/chromium only).
• Type 410—martensitic (high-strength iron/chromium). Wear resistant, but less corrosion resistant.
  
  
• Type 416— easy to machine due to additional sulfur
  
  
• Type 420—"Cutlery Grade" martensitic; similar to the Brearley's original "rustless steel". Also known as "surgical steel". Excellent polishability.
  
  
• Type 430—decorative, e.g., for automotive trim; ferritic. Good formability, but with reduced temperature and corrosion resistance.
  
  
• Type 440—a higher grade of cutlery steel, with more carbon in it, which allows for much better edge retention when the steel is heat treated properly. It can be hardened to Rockwell 58 hardness, making it one of the hardest stainless steels. Also known as "razor blade steel". Available in three grades 440A, 440B, 440C (more common) and 440F (free machinable).

500 Series—heat resisting chromium alloys

600 Series—martensitic precipitation hardening alloys

• Type 630—most common PH stainless, better known as 17-4; 17% chromium, 4% nickel

Standard mill finishes can be applied to flat rolled stainless steel directly by the rollers and by mechanical abrasives. Steel is first rolled to size and thickness and then annealed to change the properties of the final material. Any oxidation that forms on the surface (scale) is removed by pickling, and the passivation layer is created on the surface. A final finish can then be applied to achieve the desired aesthetic appearance.

• No. 0 - Hot Rolled Annealed, thicker plates
• No. 1 - Hot rolled, annealed and passivated
• No. 2D - cold rolled, annealed, pickled and passivated
• No. 2B - as above with additional pass through polished rollers
• No. 2BA - Bright Annealed (BA) as above with highly polished rollers
• No. 3 - coarse abrasive finish applied mechanically
• No. 4 - fine abrasive finish
• No. 6 - matte finish
• No. 7 - reflective finish
• No. 8 - mirror finish

• Rapid transit cars, buses, aircraft, cargo containers
• Retractor springs
• Hose clamps
• Conveyors
• Bottling machinery
• Jewelry
• Cryogenic vessels and components
• Still tubes
• Expand metal parts
• Mixing bowls
• Dryers
• Furnace parts
• Heat exchangers
• Paper mill equipment
• Oil refining equipment
• Textile industry
• Dyeing equipment
• Jet engine parts

• Welded storage tanks for organic chemicals
• Combustion chambers
• Furnace arch supports
• Kiln linings
• Smoke control ductwork
• Coal chutes
• Gauge parts
• Cutlery
• Fish hooks
• Glass molds
• Bank vaults
• Fasteners
• Skewers
• Dairy industry
• Burner and emission control components
• Recuperators
• Pipes, tubes