Average atomic weight of stainless steel

[0017...@ysub.ysu.edu]

I can't find this info anywhere. What is the average atomic weight of stainless
steel?

Thanks,
rob
0017...@ysu.edu

[Gene Fuss]

Rick Fletcher wrote:
>
> 0017...@ysub.ysu.edu wrote:
>
> : I can't find this info anywhere. What is the average atomic weight of stainless
> : steel?
>
> Five. That seems to be the answer to everything.
>
> --
> Rick
> T. Rick Fletcher - http://www.chem.uidaho.edu/~fletcher/
> Associate professor of chemistry | That's Idaho, not Iowa. | ad hominem
> University of Idaho | Upper Left Hand Corner. | ad hominem
> Moscow, ID 83844-2343 | No, I don't grow potatoes. | ad hominem

Rick, You must take that 'Five' heresy back. 42 is the answer to life,
the universe and everything (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy).

Sorry to have missed the original post; I hope the student is reading
this... One does not generally think of an alloy in terms of atomic
weight (contrasted with elements and compounds).
Also, stainless steel is a family of alloys containing iron and chromium
(and depending on the series, nickel, vanadium, molbdenum and typically
<0.5% each of various other elements), so the question is not specific
enough. I hope your teacher realized these concepts when he asked the
question.

If he asked what is the average gram molecular weight, then you can
figure it out via the percentage of atoms for each alloying constituent
in a mole of atoms (6.023x10^23 atoms) from each element's wt.% and
molecular wt. I leave the calculation as an exercise.

Gene

[Rich Lemert]

0017...@ysub.ysu.edu wrote:
>
> I can't find this info anywhere. What is the average atomic weight of stainless
> steel?
>

> Thanks,
> rob
> 0017...@ysu.edu
>

Which one? Type 304? Type 316? Type 404?

Stainless steel is a generic term covering a variety of iron-based
alloys, all of which have improved corrosion resistance compared to
basic wrought or cast iron. Some have high chromium contents, others
high nickel or high molybdenum.

Perry's Chemical Engineer's Handbook has tables covering compositions
of different alloys. I'm sure the Mechanical Engineer's Handbook will
have the same info.

Rich Lemert

[Rick Fletcher]

0017...@ysub.ysu.edu wrote:

: I can't find this info anywhere. What is the average atomic weight of stainless
: steel?

Five. That seems to be the answer to everything.

[John Vinson]

On Tue, 29 Apr 97 20:43:16 EDT, 0017...@ysub.ysu.edu wrote:

>
>I can't find this info anywhere. What is the average atomic weight of stainless
> steel?

Which of the hundreds of different alloys which go by that name did
you have in mind?

Get the composition and a periodic table and add it up! The result
should be 55 +- 10....