Chromium can increase the hardenability of stainless steel pipes, has secondary hardening effect, improves the hardness and wear resistance of carbon steel, and does not make stainless steel pipes brittle. When the content exceeds 12%, the stainless steel pipe has good high temperature oxidation resistance and corrosion resistance of oxidative media, which increases the thermal strength of the stainless steel pipe. Chromium is the main alloying element of stainless and heat-resistant steels.
Chromium can increase the strength and hardness of carbon steel in the as-rolled state, and reduce the elongation and reduction of area. When the chromium content exceeds 15%, the strength and hardness decrease, and the elongation and reduction of area increase accordingly. The processed parts of chromium-containing steel are ground, and it is easy to obtain a high surface smoothness.
The main function of chromium in quenched and tempered structural steel is to improve the hardenability, so that the stainless steel tube has better comprehensive mechanical properties after quenching. In carbide steel, in addition to comprehensive mechanical properties, chromium-containing carbides can also be formed in the carbide layer to improve the wear resistance of the surface layer. Chromium-containing spring steel is not easy to decarburize during heat treatment. Chromium can improve the wear resistance, hardness and red hardness of tool steel, and has good tempering stability. In electrothermal alloys, chromium can improve the oxidation resistance, resistance and strength of the alloy.