Stainless steel analysis laboratory

The 6NAPSE Group carries out the analysis of stainless steel. The laboratory also conducts metallurgical expertise and material failure studies.

Characteristics of stainless steel in industry

Stainless steel is an alloy of steel (based on iron and carbon). According to Standard EN 10020, it must contain a minimum of 10.5% chromium and less than 1.2% carbon. The presence of chromium in its composition makes it a metal that is not very sensitive to corrosion.

There are 4 main families of stainless steels:

• Ferritic steels (ex: X6Cr17, X6CrMo17-1, X3CrTi17)
• Martensitic steels (ex: X20Cr13, X46Cr13, X29CrS13, N690Co (X105CrCoMo18-2))
• Austenitic steels (ex: X2CrNi18-9, X2CrNiMo17-12-2)
• Austenitic-ferritic steels called “duplex” (ex: X2CrNiN23-4)

Due to its resistance to rust, it is used in many fields: medical devices, construction, naval, aeronautics, tools, mechanical industries, kitchen utensils, food processing, chemicals, automotive, transport, etc.
In addition, it is fully recyclable.

Validation and corrosion testing

In our test centers, we also carry out premature aging tests on materials in order to analyze their change of state, their durability or their conformity. Also, we conduct environmental and mechanical validation tests:

• Environmental tests (temperature, susceptibility to fluids, light, etc.)
• Mechanical tests (fatigue, endurance, maneuver)
• Vibration tests (shock resistance in an assembly)

We are also able to carry out the expertise of a failure (breakage, rupture, appearance defect) as well as the identification of the origin of corrosion (rust) and corrosion resistance tests in condition salt fog.

6NAPSE group assets

• All the controls, tests and analyzes of our laboratories are carried out in compliance with the quality criteria of our industrial customers.
• Short standard deadlines and possibilities of emergencies