Overview
ISO 15510:2014 - "Stainless steels - Chemical composition" is an international standard that lists the agreed chemical compositions for stainless-steel grades as approved by ISO/TC 17/SC 4. Published as the second edition (2014), the document consolidates compositions from existing ISO, ASTM, EN, JIS and GB (Chinese) specifications and applies to all wrought product forms, including ingots and semi-finished material. The standard's Table 1 provides the baseline compositions (applicable for cast analysis) and a unified ISO steel-numbering/ designation system to help compare and substitute grades across national systems.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and definition: A stainless steel is defined in ISO 15510 as steel with at least 10.5 % Cr and a maximum of 1.2 % C (mass fraction).
- Chemical composition table: Table 1 lists elemental limits (C, Si, Mn, P, S, Cr, Mo, Ni, N and other elements) for a wide range of austenitic, ferritic, duplex, martensitic and precipitation‑hardening steels. The table is intended for cast analysis.
- Designation system: Steel numbers follow a 10‑digit code format (XXXX-YYY-ZZ-A) that maps ISO designations to European (EN), UNS/ASTM, JIS and GB counterparts, aiding cross-reference and procurement.
- Normative references & terms: Uses ISO/TS 4949 (steel names) and ISO 6929 (steel vocabulary) for consistent terminology.
- Guidance and cautions:
- Recommends avoiding lead (Pb) additions for machinability due to health and environmental concerns; sulfur additions are given as an alternative.
- Notes on substitution: any deviation from Table 1 for product-specific standards should be coordinated with ISO/TC 17/SC 4.
- Informative annexes: Annexes provide cross‑reference tables to other designation systems, classification rules, density values and bibliographic references.
Practical applications and users
ISO 15510:2014 is a practical reference for:
- Material engineers and metallurgists specifying stainless‑steel grades for corrosion resistance, mechanical properties or fabrication.
- Design and procurement teams comparing equivalent grades across international standards (EN, ASTM, JIS, GB).
- Steel producers and mill test laboratories using the chemical composition limits for quality control and cast analysis.
- Standards committees and product specifiers harmonizing new or revised product standards with internationally agreed compositions.
- Manufacturers of wrought stainless-steel products (tubing, sheet, forgings, billets) who require consistent grade definitions.
Related standards and SEO keywords
Related documents: ISO/TS 4949, ISO 6929 and other ISO metallurgy standards.
Useful search terms: ISO 15510:2014, stainless steels chemical composition, stainless steel grades, ISO stainless steel standard, steel designation, wrought stainless steel, stainless steel specifications, ISO/TC 17/SC 4.
ISO 15510:2014 provides a practical, internationally harmonized chemical‑composition reference that simplifies grade selection, cross-referencing and quality control for professionals working with stainless steels.