Argon/oxygen decarburization AOD

Since ferritic stainless steels contain more carbon than other classes, they are relatively harder to weld and shape than other varieties, which have historically limited their applications. However, since the 1960s, processes such as argon oxygen decarburization (AOD) have resulted in steels with less carbon, allowing for smaller concentrations of chromium to be used. As a result, the price for ferritic stainless steel has dramatically dropped, and a number of applications now employ these materials - more than 2/3 of which include automotive exhaust systems. 

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