5 Industrial Uses of Stainless Steel

What are the uses of stainless steel in different industries?

1. Food and Restaurant Industry 
2. Hospital and Medicine Industry 
3. Architecture and Construction Industry 
4. Automotive Industry 
5. Aerospace Industry 

With the boom of the industrial revolution came the improvement of designs and applications of previous inventions. The most noteworthy of all is the experimentation and resulting augmentation of steel which lead to the creation of stainless steel. Stainless steel’s benefits includes excellent corrosion resistance, high strength, and an aesthetic appearance, which is why it is ideal for numerous industrial applications. Here are the five industrial uses of stainless steel. 

Food and Restaurant Industry 

When stainless steel was first invented, it was called “chromium steel” as it mainly included chromium as its main alloying agent. Known as non-rusting steel, its principal application was advertised to be “especially good for table cutlery.” 

Prior to its invention, flatware was also known as silverware due to spoons, forks, and knives being principally made of silver — a non-corrosive metal. Corrosion is an important factor to consider when it comes to preparing and serving food because no one wants to eat food that tastes like metal and rust. Unfortunately, silverware had always been limited to the nobles and elites because silver is expensive. 

The invention of stainless steel completely revolutionized the food and restaurant industry not only because its application widened to pans, knives, kitchen sinks, preparation tables, and even cheese graters. Any chef would tell you that cleanliness is a priority in the kitchen, and stainless makes this possible.

Hospital and Medicine Industry

A few decades before the invention and mass production of stainless steel, advances in medicine had reached a point wherein awareness and importance when it comes to hygiene and sterilization became the norm. 

The advent of stainless steel was revolutionary when it came to the industry and field of medicine. For doctors, especially surgeons, utensils that are made of stainless steel are easier to sterilize, stronger, and more durable. When it comes to bone implants to repair hips, knees, or to replace completely shattered bones, stainless steel is also often used due to its strength and resistance to corrosion. For other medical applications all disposable hypodermic needles, also known as syringes, are made of stainless steel. 

Stainless steel is economical, hygienic, and durable. For these reasons, it is widely used in the medical industry. 

Architecture and Construction Industry 

Stainless steel plays a major role in modern architecture design. It is highly aesthetic and its reflective quality adds a contemporary look to any structure. Aside from aesthetic properties, stainless steel is also widely used in the architecture and construction industry for various benefits.  

Stainless steel’s resistance to corrosion allows designers to place stainless steel installations outdoors without fearing degradation from environmental elements — be it from heat, rain, or snow. Another characteristic that causes stainless to be an ideal material for the architecture and construction industry is its ease of cleaning. Using common cleaning products is enough to maintain stainless steel parts. 

Automotive Industry 

Stainless steel is widely used in vehicles because it maintains its structural integrity  despite vehicles being constantly exposed to extreme temperatures and vibrations. 

Gearboxes, transmission, suspension systems, differential modules, and steering systems are automotive parts commonly made of stainless steel. 

In addition, the excellent corrosion resistance of stainless steel is ideal for use in automotive components such as fuel tanks and catalytic converters. External automotive components such as mufflers and exhausts are often made of stainless steel due to the metal’s distinct sheen.

Aerospace Industry 

Although aluminum has been the commonly used metal for airplanes due to its lightweight characteristics, stainless steel also has a widespread application in the aerospace industry. 

As opposed to aluminum, stainless steel is stronger and more resistant to wear and tear. Scratches, dents, and other forms of damage are less of a problem with aircraft parts made of stainless steel. Over the years, stainless steel components are being used for aircraft vehicles when it comes to high-impact and load-bearing components such as the landing gear. Although light weight is an important factor in the aerospace industry, the sturdy landing gear is important to ensure airplanes land on the ground safely.

Key Takeaway

Here are the different industrial uses of stainless steel. It’s almost impossible to even remotely imagine a modern world without stainless steel. Owing to the attribute of strength, excellent resistance to corrosion, an aesthetic appearance, and more, stainless steel has been a valuable metal across various industries.

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