Ferritic stainless steel, abbrviated as FSS, is a class of stainless steels primarily composed of iron and chromium, typically ranging from 10.5% to 30% chromium, with a very low carbon content (usually less than 0.1%). Their distinguishing characteristic is a body-centered cubic (BCC) crystal structure, which makes them magnetic, unlike many other stainless steel types. While they generally offer good corrosion resistance, particularly in oxidizing environments and excellent resistance to stress corrosion cracking, they are not hardenable by heat treatment. However, they can be softened through annealing and exhibit good ductility and formability. Due to their low or absent nickel content, ferritic stainless steels are often more cost-effective than austenitic grades and find common applications in automotive exhaust systems, kitchen appliances, and various industrial equipment where moderate corrosion resistance and magnetic properties are desired.
