A Little Bit Of Info About The Versatility Of Stainless Steel by Art Gib
Stainless steel is a marvelous invention that changed the face of industrial, commercial, and domestic metallurgy forever. It is such a normal part of our everyday lives that we may not notice its presence, but we would definitely notice its absence. Here's a little bit about this amazing and versatile alloy.
Carbon steel has long been used for construction and other uses, of course, but its main drawback was its corrosive nature. Any kind of exposure to the elements meant rust, rust, and more rust. Very few steel artifacts remain from ancient times because they simply crumbled away over the centuries unless they were protected in some way. In the 19th century, European metallurgists discovered that adding chromium to carbon steel would make it much more corrosion-resistant, but they were never able to create practical applications for their discovery.
In the 20th century, however, Americans found a workable formula for combining chromium with steel, and "stainless steel" was officially patented. Although it is technically not completely stainless, a steel/chromium alloy containing at least 11% chromium is much more stain resistant than its pure carbon counterpart, and does not rust or corrode nearly as easily.
Though originally seen as a great solution for cutlery, clever and enterprising pioneering inventors and engineers soon found a host of applications for stainless steel, particularly in the area of architecture.
During the art deco period of the 1920's, American buildings began to take on a luster that they did not have before: New York's Chrysler Building, for example, had its top covered with intricately and artistically cut sheets of stainless steel. The Gateway Arch in St Louis is perhaps the best example of a monument protected by the non-corrosive properties of stainless steel. With very little maintenance over the years, these two structures still look as fresh as the day they were built.
In addition to architecture, stainless steel is used for machinery of all kinds, commercial kitchens, medical instruments, lighting fixtures, restaurant furniture, household appliances, backyard grills, and even jewelry. It has also become a favorite with amateur metal workers who want to create sculptures, box planters, and even mailboxes for their homes!
The higher the chromium content, the greater the weather protection, and there are over 150 different grades of stainless steel alloys available on the market today. Which kind is used depends entirely on its application.
The chameleon-like properties of stainless steel are the main reasons why it is so widely used yet so little noticed. We've come to take stainless steel for granted in our everyday lives, yet we'd hardly know how to live without it anymore.
For the very best stainless steel sheet selection for either commercial or personal use, check out the variety of high quality products at Starland Metals (http://shopstarlandmetals.com). Art Gib is a freelance writer.
Article Source: ArticleSnatch Free Article Directory
Stainless steel is a marvelous invention that changed the face of industrial, commercial, and domestic metallurgy forever. It is such a normal part of our everyday lives that we may not notice its presence, but we would definitely notice its absence. Here's a little bit about this amazing and versatile alloy.
Carbon steel has long been used for construction and other uses, of course, but its main drawback was its corrosive nature. Any kind of exposure to the elements meant rust, rust, and more rust. Very few steel artifacts remain from ancient times because they simply crumbled away over the centuries unless they were protected in some way. In the 19th century, European metallurgists discovered that adding chromium to carbon steel would make it much more corrosion-resistant, but they were never able to create practical applications for their discovery.
In the 20th century, however, Americans found a workable formula for combining chromium with steel, and "stainless steel" was officially patented. Although it is technically not completely stainless, a steel/chromium alloy containing at least 11% chromium is much more stain resistant than its pure carbon counterpart, and does not rust or corrode nearly as easily.
Though originally seen as a great solution for cutlery, clever and enterprising pioneering inventors and engineers soon found a host of applications for stainless steel, particularly in the area of architecture.
During the art deco period of the 1920's, American buildings began to take on a luster that they did not have before: New York's Chrysler Building, for example, had its top covered with intricately and artistically cut sheets of stainless steel. The Gateway Arch in St Louis is perhaps the best example of a monument protected by the non-corrosive properties of stainless steel. With very little maintenance over the years, these two structures still look as fresh as the day they were built.
In addition to architecture, stainless steel is used for machinery of all kinds, commercial kitchens, medical instruments, lighting fixtures, restaurant furniture, household appliances, backyard grills, and even jewelry. It has also become a favorite with amateur metal workers who want to create sculptures, box planters, and even mailboxes for their homes!
The higher the chromium content, the greater the weather protection, and there are over 150 different grades of stainless steel alloys available on the market today. Which kind is used depends entirely on its application.
The chameleon-like properties of stainless steel are the main reasons why it is so widely used yet so little noticed. We've come to take stainless steel for granted in our everyday lives, yet we'd hardly know how to live without it anymore.
For the very best stainless steel sheet selection for either commercial or personal use, check out the variety of high quality products at Starland Metals (http://shopstarlandmetals.com). Art Gib is a freelance writer.
Article Source: ArticleSnatch Free Article Directory