300 Series Stainless Steel - This austenitic grade of stainless is most commonly used in corrosive environments. Although they do not respond to hardening heat treatments they can be annealed by rapid cooling from elevated temperatures. Machinability is good in the annealed condition.

400 Series Stainless Steel - Martensitic grade of stainless that responds to heating and cooling is a manner similar to carbon and alloy steels. Corrosion resistance is not as great as that of 300 series stainless but hardenability is higher. 400 series stainless is also less expensive due to lower chrome content.

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