T – 201 Stainless Steel is an austenitic chromium – nickel – manganese stainless steel that was originally developed to conserve nickel to lessen the impact of wildly fluctuating nickel prices .
Stainless steel is generally defined as an iron – based alloy containing more than 11 % chromium , being the minimum amount necessary to form a protective layer of chromium oxide on the surface of the metal .
T – 201 has seen service for a number of years as a viable alternative to T – 301 and T – 304 stainless steels in the construction of railroad cars , architectural uses such as interior handrails ; elevator cabs ; appliances ; washing machines ; machine frames ; and in various food service related applications such as restaurant equipment , beverage dispensers and ice machines .
Better grades of T - 201 will typically contain at least 16 % chromium and 3 1/2 % to 5 1/2 % nickel and 5 1/2 % to 7 1/2 % manganese . The manganese content is increased to offset the reduction in nickel content from ” 8.00 % – 11.00 % to 3.50 % – 5.50 % ” .
A representative high – grade T – 201 stainless steel might be expected to contain the following chemical content :
C : 0.150 % Max
Mn : 5.500 % – 7.500 %
P : 0.060 % Max.
S : 0.030 % Max.
Si : 1.000 % Max .
Cr : 16.000 % – 18.00 %
Ni : 3.500 % – 5.50 %
N : 0.250 % Max.
Fe : Balance
Unfortunately , there is no laboratory test that can predict whether a UNS S 20100 material will perform differently than a Type 304 material in a given application .Existing standard corrosion tests are usually aggressive and will cause corrosion in both T – 304 and T – 201 stainless steels.
The only way to know for certain if the T – 201 stainless steel will perform satisfactorily in a given environment is to make trial products and expose them to service in corrosion atmospheres of varying degree .
We would be very appreciative if those of you who have personal experience with the use of T – 201 stainless steel in the manufacture of your product would be gracious enough to offer the benefit of your experience .
Thank you very much for your consideration and sharing.
