7 Benefits of Stainless Steel

As specialists in fabrication, architectural rigging, cable manufacturing and more we’ve worked with a wide range of materials in residential, commercial and industrial projects. One of our most commonly used materials across all these contexts is stainless steel. Its many unique properties combined, make it an ideal solution for many applications and we thought we’d explore all the different benefits of stainless steel to prove just how useful it really is.

Properties of Stainless Steel

To fully understand the benefits of stainless steel as a material used across a wide range of industries, it’s important to understand more about the properties of stainless steel that make it such an ideal material for use in fabrication, rigging, and cable manufacturing as well as commercial, industrial, and residential projects. Here are seven properties of stainless steel that bring so many benefits:

1. Corrosion Resistance
One of the best and most well-known characteristics of stainless steel is that it is extremely corrosion resistant. When it was first created by Harry Brearley in 1913 it was spoken of as the world’s first ‘rustless steel’. The addition of chromium content was the key component that gave stainless steel this quality and was seen as the major breakthrough in its development. Stainless steel has evolved a great deal since then with many different types/grades available. We typically use 316-grade stainless steel which also contains 3% molybdenum. This further strengthens its resistance to corrosion against industrial acids, alkaline solutions and makes it particularly resilient in high saline environments (i.e. those by the sea). This founding characteristic has made it highly applicable all over the world.

2. Fire and heat resistance
The resilience of stainless steel as a material is a common theme throughout this blog and its resistance to fire and heat is an integral part of that. Stainless steel has this attribute because of its oxidation resistance, even at high temperatures. This enables it to retain its strength under harsh and extreme temperature conditions very effectively. Chromium again plays an important role in this respect and makes stainless steel a great choice with fire resistance and fire prevention in mind. It’s a material that outperforms the likes of galvanised steel and aluminium in this regard.

3. Hygiene
A benefit of stainless steel that might not immediately come to mind, but is particularly true and important, relates to hygiene. Stainless steel is an extremely hygienic material due to the fact that it is extremely easy to clean and sanitise. Its smooth, sheen-like and non-porous surface means that the likes of dirt, grime and bacteria struggle to establish themselves on its exterior. When they do, they can very easily be wiped away. The ease of this cleaning and maintenance makes stainless steel an excellent choice in environments where strong hygiene is vital. This is why professional kitchens are made almost exclusively of stainless steel and why you’ll see it relied on heavily in hospitals, laboratories, factories etc.

4. Impact resistance and strength
Stainless steel is an extremely tough and highly durable material with high impact resistance. Part of the reason for this is that stainless steel has low susceptibility to brittleness at high and low temperatures. Not only does this mean that the material will retain its shape, but it means at its melting point it can be more easily welded, cut, fabricated etc as we do in the manufacture of balustrades for example. Interestingly, it’s also a material that’s commonly used in cryogenic applications given its strength in cold working conditions showing again just how strong a material it is.

5. Aesthetic appearance
Another reason why many turn to stainless steel is somewhat superficial but not less valid and that’s to do with its aesthetic appearance. Ever since its creation, stainless steel has been seen as an elegant, attractive and modern material. Many see it as a material that has a brightness that resonates with a sense of purity. It is also a material that has stood the test of time and if anything, has become more and more popular as a functional and ornamental choice in residences and commercial properties around the world. It is also a material that complements and works well with most other materials, styles and colours.

6. Sustainability
Another benefit that doesn’t get a lot of attention when it comes to stainless steel but one that is very important as a global issue is the fact that it’s a highly sustainable choice. Stainless steel is typically created from about 70% scrap metal meaning its foundations come from that which isn’t being used. Furthermore, it’s 100% recyclable in its original form which means it can be repurposed should it cease to serve its original function. It won’t leach toxic chemicals like some other materials during the recycling process and doing so, reduces the need for mining the rarer elements that play an important role in the creation of stainless steel.

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 great news about stainless steel is that it has very few disadvantages. One potential downside can be that it is difficult to manufacture stainless steel and this can sometimes lead to higher costs. As we have discussed above, however, the long term value of stainless steel means that any initial outlay pays for itself over time.

Another potential disadvantage is the fact that Stainless steel can also show up dirt and grease in certain environments. When you think about kitchen surfaces or appliances, even the smallest smudge or fingerprint will show up on the surface and whilst they are easy to wipe clean, it can be a battle to keep them clean, especially with a big family.

Overall, however, the advantages of stainless steel far outweigh the disadvantages making it the ideal material for a huge range of applications.

As you can see, there are some great benefits of stainless steel that shouldn’t be overlooked or dismissed. We hope you’ve enjoyed this blog and would be happy to discuss the needs and requirements for your next project and how stainless steel might work as a solid solution for you!

Stainless Steel Round Bar

Stainless steel round bars are mainly used in the construction industry. As the name suggests stainless steel round bars are made up of stainless steel material. There are different grades of stainless steel bars available, each of which has applications in different industries. It also has strong strength and durability.

There is a variety of chromium content in stainless steel formulations, and corrosion prevention of the alloy increases with the amount of chromium in it. Stainless steels are made from stainless steel and contain chromium.

Let us see how stainless steel round bars are beneficial:

Corrosion Resistance:

The key benefit of stainless steel is that they provide great features of corrosion resistivity which helps to use in many applications. The corrosion rate of low alloy steel grades increases in hot conditions. It is also heat resistant and fire resistant when exposed to high temperatures and pressures.

Temperature resistance at both high and low levels:

Heat and fire resistance aids in preventing scaling at extreme temperatures as well as maintaining power.

Manufacturing ease:

Today’s modern steel manufacturing procedures allow stainless steel to be forged, cut, drilled, machined, manufactured and molded in much the same way as conventional steel. Frequently, it is the least expensive content option due to its long product life cycle and long useable lifetime.

Cleansing:

Its ease of cleaning makes stainless steel a favorite material of hospitals, restaurants, and abattoirs that are subject to strict hygiene standards. Food that comes into contact with a stainless steel round bar will not accumulate dirt or bacteria, as it is one of the most sanitary and clean surfaces available.

Aesthetic appeal:

Round stainless steel bars are available in a variety of surface treatments, and they are easily maintained and have an appealing appearance due to their durability and high quality. It is vital to have stainless steel appliances in the kitchen or house, and stainless steel curtains rods, which look fantastic in either setting.