Plain chromium steels (12 to 27 percent chromium) with

no significant nickel content which results in lower corrosion resistant than austenitic stainless
steels. However, they have slightly higher yield strengths and much lower strain hardening than
austenitics. Ferritic steels have body centered cubic crystal, are less ductile than austenitic steel, and
are not hardenable by heat treatment like martensitic steels. Older ferritics (such as AISI 409 and
430) are used mainly for household utensils and other applications not demanding in anti-
corrosion properties. Ferritics with high chromium content (such as AISI 446) are used mainly for
high temperature (but below 475°C) applications, and those with
extremely low carbon and nitrogen content (such as S44400) are used
where protection against stress corrosion cracking is required. They are the second
largest selling type of stainless steels behind austenitics

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