Commodity
Index-linkedBulk Stainless steel follows a global index more than a boutique mill.
Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
Strength74
Heat resistance76
Fire performance86
Insulation10
Workability70
Circularity68
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Last reviewed Sources & creditsMedia creditsMethodology
Quick answers
Is Stainless steel non-combustible?
Declared reaction class in this atlas: A1 metal. Assemblies still need resistance tests.
Does Stainless steel insulate?
Thermal mark 10/100 versus the atlas. Conductivity note: ~15 W/m·K (austenitic).
What is the density band?
~8.0 g/cm³
How is it made?
Origin story: 1913 Brearley / Strauss (Sheffield / Essen).
Can it be recycled?
Circularity mark 68/100 — editorial, route-specific.
Typical melting or failure heat?
~1400–1450 °C
heat 76 · fire 86
Prices are bands. A 2024 coil is not a 2026 contract. Labour and certification often dwarf the commodity.
Producers listed are landmarks for orientation, not a ranking or a procurement list.
Cost bands
Specified grade
PremiumTight chemistry, cleanliness or certification multiplies the unit price.
System
InstalledBoards, coats and labour dwarf kilogram prices.
Certified / medical / aero
HighestPaperwork is the product.
Trial / green route
PolicyLow-carbon or bio routes still trade on certificates.
Regions
East Asia
Volume production and finishing.
Europe
Standards (EN, Euroclass) and specialty.
North America
ASTM / NFPA language and large domestic mills.
Korea / Japan
High-spec sheet, fibres, electronics-adjacent ceramics.
Resource belts
Ore, plantations or energy that feed primary routes.
Global trade
Stainless steel moves as coils, bales, boards or chemicals — check HS codes, not vibes.
Key numbers
~8.0 g/cm³Density
~15 W/m·K (austenitic)Thermal
A1 metalFire letter
10Atlas insulation
Producers
Outokumpu
European stainless specialist.
Acerinox
Spain plus NAS in the US.
Aperam
Stainless and electrical.
TISCO / Tsingshan
Chinese volume, including Indonesian NPI routes.
POSCO stainless
Korean sheet.
Nippon Steel Stainless
Japanese precision sheet.
Ask for the route (primary, scrap, bio) before believing a green label.
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