What is Inox Steel?

What is Inox? You may have seen this written on all sorts of things, including knives and kitchen appliances, but what exactly does it mean, and where does the term come from?

In this article, we’ll explain what exactly Inox is, and some common uses in industry.

What Does Inox Mean?

Inox is a common term for Stainless Steel, used predominantly in France and French-speaking countries. The name Inox comes from the French for “rustproof”; Inoxydable.

It is used as a generic term for stainless steel, and there are many variants and grades.

What Makes Inox Corrosion Resistant?

Inox, or Stainless Steel is an alloy of steel that contains at least 10.5% Chromium. This prevents the iron from forming iron oxide on the surface of the part.

Alongside Chromium, many Stainless Steel grades contain elements such as manganese, molybdenum and varying amounts of nickel. Each combination of alloying elements makes the material more suited to certain environments.

Grades of Inox

There are many grades of Inox, aka stainless steel, to suit the huge range of requirements in the industry. Some common grades include:

304 Stainless Steel

Commonly used in process equipment, structures in the food and beverage industry, pipework and more. It has excellent resistance to acids such as Nitric, Citric and Acetic.

It is not recommended for use in marine environments, due to its low resistance to saltwater. 304 stainless is easily weldable, machined and formed, making it a cost-effective material for fabricated and machined parts.

316 Stainless Steel

Often considered to be a superior grade to 304, it is readily used in food, beverage and pharmaceutical applications. It is also commonly used in mechanical components such as pump shafts and housings.

316 is just as easy to work with as 304 and can be used in conjunction with it, even welded to it. 316 stainless steel is slightly stronger than 304 and is used extensively in marine applications thanks to its resistance to seawater.

440 Stainless Steel

This is a harder, high-carbon grade, often used in bearings, knives, surgical tools and other items that need to retain an edge or resist abrasion. It is heat-treatable, unlike the two previously mentioned.

440 stainless steel needs more consideration when working, with machining and welding being more difficult. This is especially the case if the annealing and heat-treating stages are not considered.

What is Inox Used For?

Inox finds uses across the industry, from large-scale industrial processing to small kitchenware and appliances. These are some of the common uses for stainless steel, otherwise known as Inox:

• Food processing equipment
• Oil and gas valves and components
• Medical appliances or tools
• Pharmaceutical equipment such as tanks, hoppers, etc
• Marine components such as ladders and bracketry
• Cryogenic applications

Inox Facts

• The name Inox comes from the French word Inoxydable, which means rustproof
• Stainless steel was used on the Delorean DMC-12, famous for starring in Back to the Future
• Most Inox/Stainless steel grades are non-ferrous, but there is a group of grades known as ‘Ferritic’ stainless steels, that are magnetic
• Stainless steel was discovered in 1913 by a British metallurgist
• There are over 100 different grades of stainless steel

Buy Your Inox from Metals Supermarkets

Whether you call it Inox or stainless steel, Metals Supermarkets has an extensive range of products, in many shapes and profiles, across all of the most commonly used grades. We also offer a cut-to-size service, for saving time and effort in cutting sheets, plates or sections. Find your nearest Metal Supermarkets store here.