Cromgard is a low cost stainless steel, which is able to provide benefits of good weld-ability and formability, making it capable of fabrication by conventional techniques. It provides the benefits of strength, corrosion and abrasion resistance, durability and low maintenance. Cromgard falls within the 400 series family of stainless steels. Because Cromgard does not depend upon expensive alloying elements like nickel and molybdenum, it has maintained a consistently low cost advantage compared with other corrosion resisting materials. Cromgard provides a superior alternative to coated carbon steels and other materials, which have poor corrosive/abrasive resistance. It also helps to reduce costs through minimizing protective treatments and corrosion allowances. In service continued savings in maintenance, improved productivity and longer service life are generated. Cromgard offers higher strength and equal structural stiffness than mild steels such as ASTM A36, and greater impact and energy resistance than conventional forms for aluminum. It behaves much like an austenitic steel, in that it is a gradual yielding steel and does not show a definite yield point. In square or rectangular sections, commonly used in vehicle frames, utility stainless steel ensures that the structure will deform in a controlled manner and absorb sufficient impact energy to preserve interior survival space. It has been extremely successful in displacing, in a wide variety of applications, coated carbon steel, Corten and aluminum. In every case Cromgard can demonstrate a realistic performance or economical advantage, often both. These are just some of the industries which use Cromgard: Mining Power Generation Sugar Bulk Handling Water Transport Telecommunications/Electrical Engineering Rail Agricultural Typical applications are: Bulk wet materials handling Vehicle frame/chassis Rail car hoppers Sweeper/gritter vehicles Conveyors, chutes, screens, troughs Bunkers, hoppers Tanks and containers Chimneys, ducting Enclosures, cabinets Walkways,stairs, railings Specifications Cromgard stainless steel is suitable for pressure purposes, which includes minimum specified impact values. Corrosion Resistance Atmospheric corrosion testing of 12% chromium stainless steels has given corrosion rates as low as 0.00004"-0.00008"/year in moderate marine environments, an improvement of 250 times the life of unpainted mild steel under the same conditions. Corrosion/Abrasion The simultaneous abrasion and corrosion of a metal can result in significant material loss which is exacerbated through the synergistic effect. This is the case even when costly coatings are applied. In wet or damp conditions where abrasion occurs, Cromgard has demonstrated excellent performance by resisting corrosive attack and so maintaining better flow and slide-ability characteristics compared to non or low alloyed steels, including abrasion resistant grades. In a real industrial situation where moisture is present Cromgard is shown to be vastly superior to carbon and low alloy steels. Cromgard has practically shown its advantage in a number of applications. For materials handling applications, the superior slide-ability can be exploited, not only to restore lost capabilities in existing plant, but also to save costs in new plant. Similarly, because of the improved slide-ability, it has found use in the storage, handling and transportation of coal, allowing rapid throughput of material, lower discharge angles and less problems with hang-up. In addition, corrosion resistance allows bins that have been out of service for a length of time to be brought back into immediate mass flow service. Summary Benefits 250 times greater corrosion resistance than mild Outstanding corrosion/abrasion resistance Economy - low cost, low maintenance High Strength - offers low weight design options Excellent impact resistance Good weldability by conventional methods Can eliminate need for coatings and corrosion Proven application success across a wide range Good performance at elevated temperature American Utility Metals is the premier supplier of Cromgard, 12% Chromium utility grade stainless steel in the Americas. With sales offices and stocking locations throughout the country we are committed to providing our customers with a high quality and timely service. In 2004 American Utility Metals was among only 1% of metal service centers in the USA approved to ISO 9001:2000. For further information click here.