What is the main component of ferritic stainless steel?

Ferritic stainless steel is primarily characterized by its high chromium content, with chromium being the main alloying element that provides its corrosion resistance and magnetic properties. Unlike austenitic stainless steel, which often contains a significant amount of nickel, ferritic stainless steel has a lower percentage of nickel or may not contain it at all.

The composition of ferritic stainless steel typically contains iron as the base metal along with a specified amount of chromium, generally ranging from 10.5% to 30%, and a small amount of carbon. Therefore, recognizing that chromium is essential for corrosion resistance, the defining aspect of ferritic stainless steel is its iron and chromium combination, highlighted in choice B.

While manganese can be present to improve certain mechanical properties, it is not a distinguishing feature of ferritic stainless steel, nor are nickel and carbon the primary components that define its classification. In ferritic stainless steel, the iron and chromium together form the core structure that contributes to its unique qualities, making this choice the most accurate representation of its main component.