Stainless steel is an incredibly versatile and adaptable material with a range of applications from industrial manufacturing to luxury watchmaking. Its combination of strength, durability and corrosion resistance makes stainless steel a material of choice for many projects, however, these advantages come at a cost and stainless steel is often not the most affordable material.
Stainless steel is an alloy of iron, typically combined with chromium, nickel and other elements. Different elements can be added to change the properties of the resulting alloy allowing for greater control when designing and making parts or components. The chromium increases the corrosion resistance and turns the steels surface into a passive film which helps to protect the underlying material against corrosion.
The most common grade of stainless steel used in manufacturing is AISI 304. It contains 18.0–20.0% chromium as well as 8.0–10.5% nickel and up to 0.08% carbon. While 304 is seen as the usual standard grade for any kind of application, engineers favor specific stainless steel grades depending on their needs. For example, where higher strength is required grade 316 is often used, but if a greater corrosion resistance is more important then grade 2205 may be better suited.
The wide range of grades, together with the ability to develop bespoke alloys, has allowed stainless steel to be used for a huge variety of purposes and applications. From industrial equipment and structural components, down to everyday kitchenware, furniture and even high-end timepieces - stainless steel is incredibly versatile and durable enough to withstand the test of time.
In the construction industry, stainless steel is often seen as the more practical option when compared to non-ferrous alloys such as aluminum. It’s lighter weight than most other metals, yet strong enough to support heavy structures. This makes it cheaper and more economical to use, but it also has a greater tensile strength, which makes it suitable for use in load bearing structures.
The same corrosion resistance properties of stainless steel which make it so useful in general engineering projects, also make it ideal for use in corrosive environments. This is why it is increasingly popular in industries like offshore oil and gas, marine or any kind of wet processing application where regular exposure to salt or chemicals can deteriorate other materials over time. In such cases, the use of stainless steel ensures long-term durability and safety.
Interestingly, one application where stainless steel has become more and more popular is luxury watch-making. Currently, more expensive watches tend to be encased and made with stainless steel. Some of the most famous watch makers in the world use it for its ability to stand up to the rigors of everyday wear and tear and for its ability to resist tarnishing and scratches.
Clearly, stainless steel is incredibly diverse and has a range of advantages, but it does come with a few disadvantages. The cost of stainless steel products are often more expensive than other materials and when forming shapes from the raw material, it can be difficult to work with as it needs special tools and dies. The combination of these two factors mean that stainless steel is not always the most cost-effective choice.
However, due to its strength, durability and corrosion resistance, stainless steel is still a popular choice for many different applications. For most projects or components where longer-term value and protection is important, stainless steel can be a great option.
