Stainless steel, a material playing a crucial role in modern industry and daily life, has become an indispensable basic material in many fields due to its excellent corrosion resistance, high strength, and good processing performance. Since its introduction in the early 20th century, the application scope of stainless steel has continuously expanded, gradually permeating from its initial industrial applications to various aspects such as construction, transportation, home appliances, and medicine, profoundly changing people's lifestyles and production methods.

In the industrial sector, stainless steel, with its superior corrosion resistance, is widely used in the manufacture of equipment in industries such as chemical, petroleum, and food processing. In chemical production, equipment such as reaction vessels and pipelines often come into contact with various corrosive media; the use of stainless steel can effectively resist corrosion, ensuring the long-term stable operation of equipment, reducing maintenance costs, and improving production efficiency. In the petroleum industry, oil well pipes, refining equipment, and other equipment need to operate in harsh environments; the high strength and corrosion resistance of stainless steel make it an ideal material choice, ensuring the smooth progress of oil extraction and processing.

In the construction sector, the application of stainless steel not only enhances the aesthetics of buildings but also strengthens their durability and safety. Stainless steel is commonly used in building facades, railings, and handrails. Its bright appearance and rust-resistant properties add a modern and sophisticated touch to architecture. Simultaneously, its application in building structures is becoming increasingly widespread, such as in bridges and the supporting structures of high-rise buildings. Its high strength and excellent weldability allow it to withstand enormous loads, ensuring structural stability.

In the transportation sector, stainless steel plays a crucial role in the automotive, shipbuilding, and aerospace industries. In automobile manufacturing, stainless steel is used to manufacture body structural components and exhaust systems, reducing vehicle weight, improving fuel economy, and enhancing corrosion resistance, thus extending service life. In shipbuilding, stainless steel is a vital material for hull and deck components, resisting seawater corrosion and ensuring safe navigation. In the aerospace field, due to its high strength, high-temperature resistance, and low-temperature resistance, stainless steel is used to manufacture critical components such as aircraft engine parts and fuselage structures, meeting the operational requirements of aerospace equipment in extreme environments.

In everyday life, stainless steel is ubiquitous. Kitchenware and utensils, such as pots, pans, and knives, are mostly made of stainless steel, which is popular with consumers for its corrosion resistance and easy cleaning. Household appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and microwave ovens also widely use stainless steel, enhancing both their appearance and durability. Furthermore, stainless steel is frequently used to make decorative items and furniture accessories, adding aesthetics and quality to people's lives.

With global economic development and technological advancements, higher demands are being placed on the performance and quality of stainless steel. On the one hand, demand for stainless steel continues to grow in traditional applications, while performance requirements are becoming more stringent. For example, in marine engineering and the energy sector, stainless steel requires higher corrosion resistance and strength. On the other hand, the rapid development of emerging fields such as new energy, electronic information, and biomedicine has brought new application opportunities to stainless steel, but also presented new challenges to its performance. For instance, in the areas of new energy vehicle battery casings, heat dissipation components for electronic devices, and medical device implants, stainless steel requires special properties such as good electrical conductivity, heat dissipation, and biocompatibility.