1821
Stodart–Faraday
Early Cr-iron notes that did not yet make a market.
Stainless steel did not arrive as a finished commodity. 1913 Brearley / Strauss around Sheffield / Essen still explains who makes it and which tests it sits in.
Ten dated points, five eras and three milestones below are the spine — not a complete industrial history.
Where it began
1913 Brearley / StraussSheffield / Essen
Timeline
1821Stodart–Faraday
Early Cr-iron notes that did not yet make a market.
1872Woods patent
Chromium steels without the kitchen-brand fame.
1913Brearley 13% Cr
Sheffield gun barrels that did not rust — martensitic cutlery steel.
1912–14Strauss–Maurer 18/8
Krupp austenitics became the chemical-plant family.
1924Staybrite
UK marketing put stainless on tableware.
1930sAircraft exhaust
Heat-resisting grades entered aero.
1960s316 Mo
Molybdenum for chlorides in marine and pharma.
1980sDuplex 2205
Ferrite+austenite for offshore pipes.
1990sSuper duplex / 6Mo
Seawater systems and desalination.
2010sLean duplex
Ni-saving grades for construction tanks.
The eras
1913
Brearley 13% Cr
Sheffield gun barrels that did not rust — martensitic cutlery steel.
1924
Staybrite
UK marketing put stainless on tableware.
1960s
316 Mo
Molybdenum for chlorides in marine and pharma.
1990s
Super duplex / 6Mo
Seawater systems and desalination.
Milestones
Strauss–Maurer 18/8
1912–14Krupp austenitics became the chemical-plant family.
316 Mo
1960sMolybdenum for chlorides in marine and pharma.
Lean duplex
2010sNi-saving grades for construction tanks.
Knowing this timeline is how to read a mill certificate without treating Stainless steel as timeless.
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