Stainless Steel
From time to time, stainless steel (SS) became a material that quickly adapted to use in many industries, but it still ultimately became a material that was quickly adapted to use in many industries, with both positive and negative outcomes expected. There was a lull in support for its use. Such a situation arose in the 1990s. A turning point came when SS was used for the first time. Then the pharmaceutical industry was his second most cautious industry, but since this industry started using SS for its high strength, ease of disinfection, and high-temperature resistance, there is no room for the pharmaceutical industry to go back to steel. I did.
However, in the pharmaceutical industry, SS is used in many applications such as tanks, piping, hypodermic needles, orthopedic implants, and pressure vessels. Just as these products are used in various pharmaceutical industries, SS grades also vary depending on industry and product requirements.
The role of stainless steel in the pharmaceutical industry
In the pharmaceutical industry, medical discoveries are made, then they move into the development phase, and then from manufacturing to mass production of drugs before they are made available to patients on the market.
In each of these steps, the drug must go through many tests and incorporate special resistance to the environment and corrosion, as well as resistance to high temperatures, in order to maintain the same quality in order to be distributed on the market and a certain amount of cleanliness.
And that’s exactly what different grades of SS like 304, 309, 316, and 318 offer. Let’s take a look at how each SS can benefit the pharmaceutical industry.
The most common stainless steel (SS)grade used in the pharmaceutical industry
304 SS for the pharmaceutical industry:
304 SS is the most widely used grade in the pharmaceutical industry due to its high strength and high chromium content. Featuring high-strength, corrosion-resistant stainless steel, the Model 304 handles aggressive liquids very effectively.
Due to this quality and the ease of sterilization procedures, SS 304 is primarily used in the pharmaceutical industry to manufacture vessels, piping, and vessels for storing strong liquids.
Hypodermic needles, one of the most important products in the pharmaceutical industry, are also made exclusively from 304 stainless steel.
309 stainless steel for the pharmaceutical industry:
309 stainless steel grades are primarily known for their high-temperature properties, including high yield strength, tensile strength, and creep strength up to 1200°F.
SS 309 has even higher heat resistance than 304 and is most commonly used in pharmaceutical applications where corrosion resistance is required and in medical devices that handle human tissues and fluids.
SS 309 contains 12% nickel, 22% chromium, and 2% molybdenum, and has excellent formability and weldability, making it useful for manufacturing mechanical parts and process equipment.
316 stainless steel for the pharmaceutical industry:
SS 316 is known worldwide for its excellent corrosion resistance to chlorides and acids. SS 316 is a second austenitic stainless steel with a 2% addition of molybdenum and is also highly resistant to chloride ions.
316 stainless steel is particularly used for pharmaceuticals that come into direct contact with liquids, such as in system tanks, piping, or when transporting chemicals/corrosive liquids.
The increased durability makes cleaning easier and allows you to use stronger cleaners and detergents without worrying about damage or changes in appearance.
Easy to clean
It is smooth appearance makes the cleaning process much easier in the pharmaceutical sector, allowing microorganisms to be removed without the use of special chemicals or solvents.
Let’s summarize!
We started with a brief overview of the history of stainless steel, outlining how different industries and most importantly the pharmaceutical industry have adapted stainless steel over the years.
Benefiting the pharmaceutical industry with its corrosion resistance, acid resistance, and high resistance to various temperatures, we look at which grades of stainless steel are most beneficial in specific pharmaceutical applications and why, and finally, stainless steel A brief explanation of the properties of steel.
