Martensitic stainless steel Martensitic stainless steel Martensitic stainless steel is a specific type of stainless steel alloy. Stainless steels may be classified by their crystalline structure into three main types: "austenitic", "ferritic" and "martensitic". Martensitic stainless steels can be high- or low-carbon steels built around the Type 410 composition of iron, 12% chromium, and up to 1.2% carbon. They are hardenable by heat treatment (specifically by quenching, or by quenching and tempering). The alloy composition, and the high cooling rate of quenching enable the formation of martensite. Tempered martensite gives steel good hardness and high toughness; used largely for medical tools (scalpels, razors
Stainless steel 1936 was also built using a spot-welded stainless steel hull. Due to its thermal stability, the Bristol Aeroplane Company built the all-stainless steel Bristol 188 high-speed research aircraft, which first flew in 1963. However, the practical problems encountered meant that Concorde employed aluminium alloys. The use of stainless steel in mainstream aircraft is hindered by its excessive weight compared to other materials, such as aluminium. Surgical tools and medical equipment are usually made of stainless steel, because of its durability and ability to be sterilized in an autoclave. In addition, surgical implants such as bone reinforcements and replacements (e.g. hip