Manufacturing 101: 3 Reasons Why Stainless Steel Would Be Used In Place Of Other Metals

In the world of manufacturing, many different kinds of metal are used to create other products. Variants of steel and titanium are frequently used, although copper, brass, bronze and nickel or nickel cadmium are also used. Stainless steel itself has multiple purposes, but it also has multiple reasons for use over any other type of metal in the industry. Here are three of those reasons.

1. Stainless Steel Will Never Rust or Corrode

No product made from stainless steel will ever rust or corrode. That is the primary benefit of this metal. A manufacturer would choose to use stainless steel over many other metals when the products that the factory is making will be exposed to the elements almost all of the time. This includes heavy construction equipment, car components, bicycles, hand tools, farming tools and equipment and the like.

2. Stainless Steel Accepts Most Finishes

If the factory is manufacturing shiny metal items, stainless steel accepts most finishes and keeps the finishes looking new because of its primary benefit (see above). If you want to make shiny flatware or truck components with a nickel matte finish, both adhere well to stainless steel. It is the go-to metal for creating faux metal effects as well, making the stainless steel look like several other metals and not like stainless at all. It can even be gold-plated to look like solid gold.

3. Stainless Steel Rarely Causes Allergic Reactions in Humans

For this reason, many medical devices and internal bone replacements are made of stainless steel or titanium. Stainless steel would be chosen over titanium either because of cost or because the patient needs a little more articulation in the area where the metal devices would be placed. Titanium, while very strong and durable, does not have the flexibility of stainless steel, and therefore is only used for more solid bone replacements, such as skull plates or hip ball joints, while stainless works better in the legs, ankles, feet, wrists and fingers. Stainless may also be used in the production of dental screws for implants.

Thousands of products are manufactured using stainless steel over other metals every day. This just shows why manufacturers would choose it. It does not take into account the fact that some consumers would request stainless steel products or request custom products made from this metal. However, many consumers select stainless steel over other metals for many of the same reasons that manufacturers do. For more information about stainless steel, visit C & R Pipe Steel.

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