We’ve worked with a variety of materials in residential, commercial, and industrial projects as fabrication, architectural rigging, cable production, and other specialties. Stainless steel is one of the materials we utilize the most frequently in all of these settings. We thought we’d investigate all the numerous advantages of stainless steel to show just how valuable it really is. Its many distinctive features when combined make it a great solution for many applications.
PROPERTIES OF STAINLESS STEEL
To completely comprehend the advantages of stainless steel as a material utilized in a variety of industries, Understanding the characteristics of stainless steel that make it such a great material for use in fabrication, rigging, and cable manufacture as well as in commercial, industrial, and residential applications is crucial for all industries. The following seven characteristics of stainless steel offer a wide range of advantages:
1. Fire and Heat Resistance
This blog frequently discusses the robustness of stainless steel as a material, and this blog also frequently discusses how resistant it is to fire and heat. Because it resists oxidation even at high temperatures, stainless steel possesses this quality. Because of this, it can successfully maintain its strength in tough and extreme temperature situations. In this regard, chromium plays a key role once more, making stainless steel a fantastic material choice for fire resistance and fire prevention. It is a material that performs better in this regard than things like galvanized steel and aluminum.
2. Corrosion Resistance
The exceptional corrosion resistance of stainless steel is one of its best and most well-known qualities. It was referred to as the first “rustless steel” when Harry Brearley first made it in 1913. The main element that gave stainless steel its characteristic was the addition of chromium content, which was considered a significant development. Since then, stainless steel has changed significantly, and there are now numerous varieties and grades to choose from. The usual stainless steel that we use contains 3% molybdenum grade 316. Additionally, this makes it more resilient in high-saline situations (i.e., those by the sea) and increases its resistance to corrosion against industrial acids and alkaline solutions. It is widely applicable worldwide thanks to this defining quality.
3. Impact Resistance and Strength
A material with high impact resistance and exceptional toughness is stainless steel. This is partially due to stainless steel’s reduced susceptibility to brittleness at both high and low temperatures. This implies that the material will keep its shape and that it will also be easier to weld, cut, fabricate, etc. when it is molten, as we do when making balustrades, for instance. It’s also a material that’s frequently used in cryogenic applications, which is interesting given that it can withstand extremely cold temperatures, demonstrating once more how strong a material it is.
4. Hygiene
Although it may not immediately spring to mind, hygiene is one advantage of stainless steel that is extremely significant and useful. Due to how simple it is to clean and disinfect, stainless steel is a very hygienic material. The surface of this object is smooth, sheen-like, and non-porous, making it difficult for contaminants like dirt, filth, and bacteria to grow on it. In that case, they are relatively simple to remove. Because of how simple it is to clean and maintain, stainless steel is a fantastic material choice for settings where strict cleanliness is essential. This is why stainless steel is used so frequently in hospitals, laboratories, factories, and other commercial settings, including professional kitchens.
5. Sustainability
Another feature of stainless steel that is often overlooked but is extremely relevant as a worldwide issue is that it is a highly sustainable material. Stainless steel is often made from around 70% scrap metal, which means that its foundations are made from what isn’t being used. Furthermore, it is 100% recyclable in its original form, which means it can be repurposed if its original role is no longer served. It will not leach harmful chemicals during the recycling process, as some other materials do, reducing the requirement for mining the rarer components used in the production of stainless steel.
6. Aesthetic Appearance
Another common argument for choosing stainless steel is its attractive appearance, which is a little more flimsy but no less important. Stainless steel has long been regarded as a sophisticated, alluring, and contemporary material. Many consider it to be a substance with a brightness that evokes a sense of purity. It is a material that has withstood the test of time and, if anything, has grown in popularity as a practical and decorative option in homes and commercial buildings all over the world. Additionally, it is a material that blends in nicely with the majority of other materials, styles, and hues.
7. Long Term Value
When you consider the longevity of stainless steel as well as all the other factors mentioned above, the total life cycle cost of the material stacks up well. Its increasing prevalence in our society has increased competition from suppliers meaning pricing has been as competitive as it’s ever been. This, coupled with the fact that the maintenance cost for stainless steel is extremely low, means you’ll get great returns when choosing it as your material of choice. Given we’ve also just mentioned that it’s 100% recyclable means that it is really hard to lose out on stainless steel as a solution.Some great benefits of stainless steel
DISADVANTAGES OF STAINLESS STEEL
The good news about stainless steel is that there aren’t many drawbacks to it. One potential drawback is that it is challenging to make stainless steel, which can occasionally result in higher expenses. But as we’ve already mentioned, stainless steel has long-term worth, so any initial investment eventually pays for itself.
Stainless steel may also reflect grease and filth in some settings, which is another possible drawback. Even the tiniest smudge or fingerprint will be seen on kitchen surfaces or appliances, and while they are simple to wipe clean, maintaining cleanliness can be challenging, particularly if you have a large family.
Stainless steel is the best material for a wide variety of applications since its benefits generally outweigh its drawbacks.
As you can see, stainless steel has a number of excellent advantages that shouldn’t be disregarded. We hope you’ve liked this blog, and we’d be pleased to talk to you about the specifications for your upcoming project and whether stainless steel could be a good fit for you.