How to Choose a 13-8 Stainless Steel Supplier

13-8 stainless steel is a popular metal for a variety of industries. In aerospace development, 13-8 stainless steel is often used in parts like the landing gear, due to the ability to maintain its structure during high-stress situations like landing and take-off.

This functional metal can also be found in medical and surgical equipment. 13-8 stainless steel has excellent chemical and corrosion resistance, maintaining the quality of the instruments needed to keep a person safe during various medical procedures, such as an intense operation.

With such a versatile metal, it’s easy to see why 13-8 stainless steel is so popular. But a business must ensure that it selects the proper 13-8 stainless steel supplier, which should be weighed with the following criteria.

Understanding 13-8 Stainless Steel

Before a company can select the proper 13-8 stainless steel supplier, it’s critical to know the key elements to look for in this metal, so you can assess if the 13-8 stainless steel is the best available out there.

13-8 stainless steel is martensitic, meaning that carbon is added to make it stronger, and it contains a tetragonal crystalline structure. It’s an age-hardening stainless steel so it can undergo high levels of stress, yet won’t crack or corrode under many severe environmental conditions. Plus, it exhibits resistance in both general corrosion and stress-corrosion cracking.

This is critical for industries that deal with aerospace, defense, firearms, and medical equipment. These companies must rely on 13-8 stainless steel to land a plane, safely perform surgery on a patient, create reliable guns for service members, and more.

13-8 stainless steel is produced under conditions with direct control of the chemical composition and microstructure, plus specialized melting which reduces impurities and minimizes segregation. The chemical makeup of 13-8 stainless steel should be carbon, manganese, silicon, sulfur, phosphorus, chromium, molybdenum, nickel, and aluminum.

What to Look for in a Trusted 13-8 Stainless Steel Supplier

A trusted 13-8 stainless steel supplier should have two ideas in mind: quality and certification. At the very least, the supplier must have the ISO 9001 certification. This comes from the International Standards Authority which sets the global industry quality standard. To achieve this standard, the supplier must be audited every year, so an industry client can feel comfortable purchasing metals from them, knowing the company’s business practices are sound.

Another industry standard and certification to look for includes being OSHA Compliant, which means the workers are treated well and it’s a safe place to purchase metals from, and the source of the supply chain is traceable.

Double-check the supplier’s website to see what they’re doing to audit their supply chains and ensure all their raw materials are from quality, reputable sources.

Trust an Experienced 13-8 Stainless Steel Supplier

If your business is in the United States, you can’t go wrong with a 13-8 stainless steel supplier like Fry Steel. Fry Steel has been in business since 1948, providing raw materials for clients in the space, naval, industrial, and medical industries, plus many others.

Fry Steel operates out of Santa Fe Springs, CA, but is opening another warehouse in Ohio to better meet the needs of its customers across the entire United States. With services including high-precision saw cutting and next-day shipment, it’s easy to see why so many businesses trust Fry Steel.

Purchase your next order of 13-8 stainless steel from Fry Steel with confidence. We've secured our ISO 9001 certification and have experienced sales reps that can connect you with the perfect metals for your projects. Give us a call today.