253Ma was developed over 30 years ago when the need for a heat resistant stainless steel with high strength, while maintaining good oxidation resistance was present in the industry. The lean 11% nickel content of 253 MA is a key contributor to being cost effective and stable. With the addition of rare earth elements, 253 MA still performs well at temperatures up to 2000°F (1093℃), similar to that of 310 stainless steel.