Stainless steel is a popular metal for construction work. It also finds its way into a variety of applications worldwide. In the UK, North America and other countries, companies produce, import and export this metal. Its unique and desirable qualities make it a go-to material for certain applications. Overall, stainless steels remain a very useful alloy for many of today’s manufacturing and engineering concerns.
Stainless Steels: Useful Alloys
This metal has as its basis iron. However, its structure must consist of at least 10.5% chromium. In addition to this element, stainless steels generally contain various other elements. Among them are both metal and non-metal materials. These include:
- Carbon
- Copper
- Molybdenum
- Nickel
- Nitrogen
- Titanium
These different additions serve a variety of purposes. They generally improve the quality of the metal by reinforcing such characteristics as durability, strength, toughness and formability. Above all, they help maintain the major quality consumers come to expect from stainless steel – corrosion resistance.
Applications
Stainless steels are essential in the construction and/or manufacturing of various modern devices. They address the needs of both large and small applications. This metal finds use in such common industrial concerns as:
- Construction: It can produce everything from nails to girders to floor systems to nuclear containment structures.
- Beverage and Food: Refrigerators and stoves remain popular and practical
- Tools: Tools composed of this metal find their way into a myriad number of toolboxes, shop floors and construction sites.
- Fasteners: Zippers and other fastening devices rely on this metal for durability and strength
Stainless Steel
Stainless steels possess unique properties. They are ideal for many industrial applications. They have long been a favourite for construction work and for food and beverage appliances. As the world continues to adopt sustainable development practices, it is clear that low-maintenance, rust-resistant, recyclable stainless steel will continue to play an important role.
