2006-12-22 03:48:29 · 3 answers · asked by Weegit R 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The first number is the amount of chromium that is contained in the stainless, i.e., 18 is 18% chromium. The second number is the amount of nickel, i.e., 8 stands for 8% nickel. So 18/8 means that this stainless steel contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel. 18/10 is 18% chromium and 10% nickel. The higher the numbers the more corrosion resistant the material. 18/0 is a misleading designation. Both 18/8 and 18/10 contain nickel and are part of the grade family "300 series" stainless. 18/0 means that there is 18% chromium but zero nickel. When there is no nickel the stainless grade family is the "400 series". 400 series are not as corrosion resistant as the 300 series and are magnetic, where the 300 series are non-magnetic.
2006-12-22 04:49:19 · answer #1 · answered by aussie 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
As others said, it's the percentage of Chromium and Nickel that are added to iron to form the steel.
With so-called "18-8" steel, the exact percentages are not always controlled as precisely as in steels with the 300-series designation (eg. 304, 316, etc.). The result is a steel that works well in a general-purpose sense, but is cheaper than 304, 316, etc. steels.
2006-12-23 09:54:30 · answer #2 · answered by genericman1998 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
18% chromium and 8% nickel
That is the most common grade for stainless steel knives and is also called Type 304.
2006-12-22 03:53:08 · answer #3 · answered by Barkley Hound 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋