Various types of stainless steel are used across the whole temperature range from ambient to 1100 deg C. The choice of grade depends on several factors:

1. Maximum temperature of operation
2. Time at temperature, cyclic nature of process
3. Type of atmosphere, oxidising , reducing, sulphidising, carburising.
4. Strength requirement

In the European standards, a distinction is made between stainless steels and heat-resisting steels. However, this distinction is often blurred and it is useful to consider them as one range of steels.

Increasing amounts of Chromium and silicon impart greater oxidation resistance. Increasing amounts of Nickel impart greater carburisation resistance.