Ultra High Strength Stainless Steel Using Nanotechnology - New Product

Sandvik Materials Technology has developed a new stainless steel with exceptional properties. Called Sandvik Nanoflex, the new steel allows ultra-high strength to be combined with good formability, corrosion resistance and a good surface finish.

Because of the combination of properties, Sandvik Nanoflex is ideally suited to mechanical applications where lightweight, rigid designs are required. A high modulus of elasticity combined with extreme strength can result in thinner and even lighter components than those made from aluminium and titanium.

Sandvik Nanoflex is already being used in medical equipment, such as surgical needles and dental tools. Other areas of use are expected, e.g, in lightweight chassis applications and sports equipment.

The strength and surface properties of Sandvik Nanoflex also offer opportunities for items for the automotive industry, replacing hard-chromed low alloy steels. Thus, the environmentally unfriendly hard-chromizing process can be eliminated. Furthermore, the precision hollow bar delivery condition implies a major cost-saving benefit for slot-drilled components. With various high-performance surface treatments, improved wear resistance or reduced friction properties on a hard substrate are obtained.

Despite a high hardness, Sandvik Nanoflex displays excellent forming properties. Cold forming operations such as bending, cutting, turning and grinding are easy to perform. After reaching a desired shape, a simple low temperature heat treatment gives the material its high strength without distorting the work piece.

Good corrosion resistance means no corrosion protection treatment is required and yet cosmetic and functional finishes for different applications can be obtained. Sandvik Nanoflex displays good welding properties. It is available in the form of tube, strip, wire and bar.

Posted 29^th September 2003