The straight chromium steels have enjoyed an important participation in combating corrosion in refinery processes and it is the purpose of this paper to trace the role of this group of stainless steels as they have been employed for refinery vessel linings. The 14 to 18% chromium steels, their embrittling characteristics at certain temperatures which militated against their use in certain services, will be discussed. Included is a discussion of the 11 to 13% chromium grades which became known. Hardening characteristics together with laboratory and field corrosion test data will be presented on the 11 to 13% chromium grades together with the same information on a modified 11 to 13% chromium grade to which has been added 0.25% aluminum to prevent air hardening.
It was prior to World War I in 1912 that the straight chromium steels were discovered by Brearley in England, the result of a search for a...
