What is stainless steel?
Stainless steel is a metal alloy produced by melting down various elements such as chromium, nickel, molybdenum, silicon, aluminium, and carbon at extreme temperature and combining to form a new, single material. Nitrogen and manganese are also introduced during this process to improve ductility and corrosion resistance.
What properties does stainless steel have?
Stainless steel is extremely durable, with high resistance to temperature, stains and corrosion. It can also be finished in various ways such as polishing to a mirror finish or brushing to produce a textured appearance.
What are the applications of stainless steel?
Stainless is a highly popular metal choice for a range of industries thanks to its unique durability and corrosion resistance properties. It is used extensively in construction and architecture, automotive manufacture, power generation and retail. However, it is in the food and medical industries where stainless steel’s characteristics are most valuable. It’s resistance to corrosion, combined with it’s ability to be highly polished and cleaned, mean that it is ideal for sterile, hygienic environments.
How many types of stainless steel are there?
Stainless steel (or Inox steel) can be divided into three main types; Austentic, Ferritic and martensiticl. The major difference between the three types being the level of Nickel used in its production. The most commonly used is Austentic, grades 304 , 316 and 317 as they are the most resistant to corrosion.
Can Stainless Steel be Welded?
Yes, it can be MIG, TIG or spot welded.
What are the different finishes of stainless steel?
Bead Blasting – Using a high-pressure air feed, fine glass beads are “blasted” at high speed onto the surface of the metal to remove any imperfections and substances. This finish is ideal for food or medical industries where hygiene is important.
Brushed – Where an aesthetic, decorative finish is required, stainless steel can be “brushed” using deburring belts. This removes the reflective mirror properties of the metal an ay reduce its corrosion resistance.
Passivated – Passivation is the process of treated the surface of the stainless steel with a chemical, usually an acid to remove any surface contamination.
Mirror Finish – Through extensive polishing and buffing, using fine abrasives, it can be made to look highly reflective, hence the term “mirror finish”. This makes the metall very easy to clean and is ideal for hygienic environments such as kitchens or medical areas.
