Typical stainless steel customers are distributors, fabricators and end-users. For all parties the final performance of the product is of dominating concern. In order to secure the success and to even further widen the use of duplex stainless steel products, an open communication between manufacturer and user is important. With a world wide presence, information about the customer’s needs and demands can be efficiently transferred. In order to obtain a good communication and exchange of knowledge between customer and supplier, the way of presenting data is of vital importance.

At AB Sandvik Steel the corrosion behaviour of stainless steel grades is tested at own laboratories, at institutes and in actual process environments at customers. Data is continuously evaluated and compiled at the R&D Centre. As an example, these data are presented in the Sandvik Steel Corrosion Handbook, compiled in co-operation with Avesta Sheffield AB. In discussions concerning the choice of relevant materials for new or altered applications the information given in the data sheet of each stainless steel grade is often used. For the three duplex stainless steel grades SAF 2304, SAF 2205 and SAF 2507 (UNS S32304, S31803 and S32750, respectively) the corrosion resistance in for instance inorganic acids and against pitting and stress corrosion cracking are included. The customer’s need for information can thus be easily satisfied.

Sometimes the intended environment is complex and additional information is required. One example of this is the corrosion resistance of duplex stainless steel grades in organic acid process solutions. For this and several other aggressive environments lectures are published including reports both from laboratory tests and application experiences. In other lectures the initiation and propagation of different corrosion forms are discussed. Pitting and stress corrosion cracking are examples of corrosion types which have been described both in terms of corrosion mechanisms and test methods. The long time experience of our duplex stainless steel grades is also compiled in reference lists for different applications.

Duplex stainless steels have proved to be cost effective problem solvers in a large number of corrosive applications. The family of the duplex grades SAF 2304, SAF 2205 and SAF 2507 has different technical profiles and cover a large range of industry applications. In the paper the various ways of presenting corrosion data are exemplified, especially for suitable applications of these three grades.