With so many different types of metals on the market, choosing the right one for your home can be confusing. But with all of the advantages that stainless steel touts, selecting the right metal is a no-brainer. Stainless steel is not only beautifully sleek, but the metal is amazingly versatile while remaining inexpensive. Besides that, the metal is revered for being easy to form and is a great option for numerous projects. Keep reading to discover all of the benefits that this metal boasts!
Stainless steel is one of the world’s most versatile and valuable materials, and for good reason. Not only does the material boast superior strength, but it does so while looking sleek and beautiful. Not sure what material to choose for your next project? Check out six of the best advantages of stainless steel and see if it might be right for your next project below.
If you’re not sure which metal you should choose for your next project, consider stainless steel! Here are just a few of the benefits of this metal.
One of the main reasons stainless steel is most sought after is its strength, which it retains at both very high and very low temperatures.
Stainless steel is one of the most hygienic materials and does not support the growth of bacteria and other pathogens. Better yet, stainless steel is a breeze to clean and maintain, requiring a simple swabbing with an all purpose cleaner and a quick polish along the grain to make it shine. Since stainless steel is low maintenance and easy to clean, it’s a perfect choice for hospitals, kitchens, and other areas where cleanliness is necessary.
One of the main reasons homeowners choose stainless steel for their homes is because of the metal’s appearance. It is sleek with both classic and modern touches. Luckily, the metal is not just beautiful, but highly functional too.
There’s no denying that stainless steel is just plain good to look at. After all, there’s a reason why homes with stainless steel appliances are more sought after than homes without.
Did you know that stainless steel is corrosion resistant? This metal stands strong against corrosion, rust, water stains, and more. This also makes the metal ideal for any area where there may be temperature and pressure extremes.
When stainless steel is fabricated, chrome is added, which joins with oxygen in the air to create a film over the metal. This film repairs itself quickly when it is damaged, allowing the metal to resist corrosion and rust. The addition of other elements like nickel, titanium, and molybdenum enhances stainless steel’s corrosion-resistant properties even more.
Stainless steel is the material that keeps on giving. Once stainless steel has outlived its original purpose, it can be recycled. In fact, most stainless steel is already made from recycled materials.
Stainless steel is very tough, and even lightweight stainless steel won’t buckle under great weight, making it one of the most durable metals on the market. It can endure weight, hot and cold temperatures as well as weather extremes.
Stainless steel is used in so many different ways. Its resistance to corrosion and stains coupled with it being a low-maintenance metal, make it an ideal choice for many applications. It is probably used more commonly than you think too—the famous Chrysler Building in New York City is clad with a type of stainless steel and Chicago’s famous “Cloud Gate” is a bean-shaped structure made completely of stainless steel! Here’s a look at how this metal is commonly applied in other areas:
At Tampa Steel and Supply, we offer an extensive list of metals and services including stainless steel. If you’re unsure which metal to choose for your next project, let one of our trained team members assist you, or stop by our beautiful showroom for inspiration. To learn how we can help to facilitate your next project, contact Tampa Steel and Supply today.
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The many unique benefits of stainless steel make it a powerful candidate in materials selection. Engineers, specifiers, and designers often underestimate or overlook these values because of what is viewed as the higher initial cost of stainless steel. However, over the total life of a project, stainless is often the best value option.
Stainless steel is essentially low-carbon steel that contains chromium at 10% or more by weight. It is the addition of chromium that gives the steel its unique stainless, corrosion-resisting properties. The chromium content of the steel allows the formation of a tough, adherent, invisible, corrosion-resisting chromium oxide film on the steel surface. If damaged mechanically or chemically, this film is self-healing, provided that oxygen, even in very small amounts, is present. The corrosion resistance and other useful properties of the steel are enhanced by increased chromium content and the addition of other elements such as molybdenum, nickel, and nitrogen. There are more than 60 grades of stainless steel. However, the entire group can be divided into four classes. Each is identified by the alloying elements which affect their microstructure and for which each is named.
400 Series Martensitic – Typical grade: 410 Straight chromium (12 – 18%); magnetic and can be hardened by heat treatment. Typical use: Fasteners, pump shafts.
400 Series Ferritic – Typical grade: 430 Straight chromium (12 – 18%); low carbon, magnetic, but not heat treatable. Typical use: Appliance trim, cooking utensils.
300 Series Austenitic – Typical grade: 304 Chromium (17 – 25%), Nickel (8 – 25%); nonmagnetic, not heat treatable. Can develop high strength by cold working. Additions of molybdenum (up to 7%) can increase the corrosion resistance. Typical use: Food equipment, chemical equipment, architectural applications.
Precipitation Hardening – Typical grade: 17-4 Chromium (12 – 28%), Nickel (4 – 7%); martensitic or austenitic. Develop strength by precipitation harden reaction during heat treatment. Typical use: valves, gears, petrochemical equipment.
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Corrosion Resistance – Chromium is the alloying element that imparts to Stainless Steel their corrosion-resistant qualities. Lower alloyed grades resist corrosion in atmospheric and pure water environments; high-alloyed grades can resist corrosion in most acids, alkaline solutions, and chlorine bearing environments making their properties useful in process plants.
Fire and Heat Resistance – Special high chromium and nickel-alloyed grades resist scaling and retain high strength at high temperatures. Stainless Steel is used extensively in heat exchangers, super-heaters, boilers, feedwater heaters, valves, and mainstream lines as well as aircraft and aerospace applications. Stainless steel has a high melting point, which means it can withstand elevated temperatures without melting or deforming. (The specific melting point depends on the alloy composition)
Hygiene – Stainless steel tubing has a smooth, non-porous surface that is easy to clean and maintain. It is commonly used in critical applications such as food and beverage processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, biotechnology, medical devices, and cleanroom environments. Its corrosion resistance further enhances its longevity, making it an essential component in industries where hygiene, precision, and sterility are non-negotiable.
Aesthetic Appearance – The bright easily maintained surface of stainless steel provides a modern and attractive appearance. The availability of various finishes, including brushed, polished, and satin, provides designers with versatility to achieve specific aesthetic effects, ensuring stainless steel tubing’s enduring appeal in a wide range of applications.
Strength-to-Weight Advantage – The work-hardening property of austenitic grades results in a significant strengthening of the material from cold-working alone, and the high strength duplex grades, allow reduced material thickness over conventional grades yielding considerable cost savings. The high strength of stainless steel tubing allows engineers and designers to create robust and durable structures and components while minimizing overall weight.
Ease of Fabrication – Stainless steel has excellent formability and machinability. Its versatility allows for various fabrication methods, including cutting, welding, bending, and forming, making it a preferred material in many industries for creating a wide range of products and structures. It is indispensable in medical applications, where precision, hygiene, and longevity are paramount.
Impact Resistance – The austenitic microstructure of the 300 series provides high toughness at elevated temperatures ranging far below freezing, making these steels particularly suited to cryogenic applications. Thicker-walled tubing tends to exhibit greater resistance to impact, especially when designed to efficiently distribute stress. This is important for applications where the material needs to withstand forces and shocks without failing or deforming, ensuring the overall reliability and durability of the system.
Long-Term Value – In considering total cost, it is appropriate to consider material and production cost AND the life cycle cost. When the total life cycle costs are considered, stainless is often the least expensive material option. The cost-saving benefit of a maintenance-free product having a long life expectancy. It has a longer lifespan compared to carbon steel, which can corrode and degrade more rapidly under certain conditions.
100% Recyclable – Over 50% of new stainless comes from old remelted stainless steel scrap, thereby completing the full life cycle. Recycling stainless steel reduces the demand for new materials, conserves energy and minimizes environmental impacts of mining and production. Because stainless steel is non-corrosive and durable, it can be recycled repeatedly without losing its inherent properties.
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