SSS Stainless Steel Wire

"SSS" stands for Suzuki-Sumiden Stainless Steel Wire Co., Ltd.
Let us tell you about the stainless steel wire we produce.

1. What Is Stainless Steel?

Stainless Steel is a Rust Resistant Alloy.

Stainless steel is an alloy of iron with a minimum of 10.5% chromium. Chromium produces a thin layer of oxide on the surface of the steel known as the 'passive layer'. This prevents any further corrosion of the surface. Increasing the amount of chromium gives an increased resistance to corrosion.
Stainless steel also contains varying amounts of carbon, silicon and manganese. Other elements such as nickel and molybdenum may be added to impart other useful properties such as enhanced formability and increased corrosion resistance.

Application

Because of its clean appearance and resistance to corrosion, stainless steel is used in a variety of fields. This includes many products from kitchen sinks and home appliances to building roofs, automobile exhaust systems, train cars, aircraft, and commercial/industrial food processing equipment.

2. How Stainless Steel Resists Corrosion

The Secret Is the Passive Layer.

A passive surface layer protects stainless from rust. This very thin layer forms spontaneously as the additive chromium combines with oxygen and water in the air. This special chromium oxide layer that results is highly resistant to chemical changes from other substances. It is also very dense, which makes it difficult for gases or liquids to pass through. This prevents water and oxygen from entering, and gives stainless steel its high corrosion resistance.

Stainless Steel Passive layer =Water and Oxygen

Passive Layer is Self-Repairing.

Even if the surface layer is damaged or removed, the corrosion resistance of stainless steel is not impaired. The nature of the layer is such that it reforms automatically on any newly exposed surface, making it essentially self-repairing.

Just One Millionth of a Millimeter Thick!

The passive layer is microscopically thin, typically only one to three nanometers thick.
(One nanometer = 0.000001 millimeter.) To put that in perspective, if a one millimeter thick stainless steel plate were made the size of a 30 story (100 meter) building, the passive layer would still only be about the thickness of a sheet of copy paper (0.1 millimeter).

3. Types of Stainless Steel in JIS

Type Characteristics Representative Grade
Austenitic The most common type of stainless steel, this steel has excellent characteristics, including high corrosion and heat resistance. It is non-magnetic and can be applied across a broad range of fields. SUS304 and others
Duplex
(austenitic and ferritic)
This steel displays intermediate physical properties between the austenitic and ferritic types. It is particularly excellent in its resistance to seawater corrosion and stress corrosion cracking. It is magnetic. SUS329J4L and others
Ferritic Generally speaking, this type is inferior in terms of corrosion resistance but less expensive than the austenitic type. It is often used in moderately corrosive environments such as kitchens and for furniture. It is magnetic. SUS430 and others
Martensitic This type of stainless steel can be heat treated for hardness. It can offer a variety of properties, depending on the method of heat treatment. SUS410 and others
Precipitation hardening This type of stainless steel is prepared for hardening by adding specific elements (precipitation hardening). SUS631J1

4. SSS Stainless Steel Wire—Supporting Our Daily Lives.

Suzuki Sumiden Stainless steel (SSS) makes stainless steel wire from stainless steel wire rod. We produce a variety of types, with excellent characteristics including rust and corrosion resistance, heat resistance and high strength.

Stainless steel wire is processed according to its intended application and is used in various areas of our lives. It is a material of unlimited possibilities.