Stainless Steel Fabrication: What is so special with stainless steels?

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Almost all of our appliances, automobiles, industrial machines, kitchen wares have parts that are composed of stainless steels. Really what is so special about stainless steels? Let’s check it out!

Stainless Steel

Stainless is a term early used in the development of steels for cutlery applications. It was adopted as a generic name for these steels and now covers a wide range of steel types and grades for corrosion or oxidation resistant applications.

Composition

Stainless steel is an alloy of Iron with a minimum of 10.5% Chromium. Chromium produces a thin layer of oxide on the steel surface, which is known as the passive layer. This layer prevents corrosion of the surface. Having an increase in the amount of Chromium will give the steel an increased resistance to corrosion.

It also contains various amounts of Carbon, Silicon and Manganese. Nickel and Molybdenum may be added to impart other useful properties such as increased in formability and increased corrosion resistance.

Applications

The resistance to corrosion and staining, low maintenance and sparkling luster of stainless steels are what make them an ideal material for so many applications.

Stainless steels are milled into coils, plates, bars, wire, sheets and tubing to be used in cookware, cutlery, household hardware, surgical instruments, major appliances, industrial equipment and as an automotive or aerospace structural alloy and as well as a construction material in buildings. It can also be used in storage tanks and tankers transporting food products like juices and fresh fruits are often made of stainless steels, because of its corrosion resistance. This fact also influences the use of the said steel in commercial kitchens and food processing plants, as it can be steam-cleaned and sterilized and does not need paint or other surface finishes.

Stainless steel does not easily corrode, stain or rust with water as what happens to ordinary steel. However, it is not fully stain-proof in low-oxygen, high-salinity or poor air-circulation environments. There are different grades and surface finishes of stainless steel to suit the environment the alloy must endure.

Basically, stainless steel is used where both the properties of steel and corrosion resistance are required. This is the reason why stainless steels are special!

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For further reading: Stainless Steel Fabrication Process