Stainless steel is a versatile and reliable piping material that industries have been using for years. Read on to discover more about this metal.

From construction to chemical, metal elements are being used in almost every industry today. Over the years, metals have made advancements and proven beneficial to the humankind. It is essential to understand that each metal holds a significant prominence with its unique properties. Many metal elements are currently being used in different industries. Among all the other metals, there is one material that is versatile and reliable, i.e., stainless steel.

Belonging to the iron-based alloy family, stainless steel contains 11% chromium that helps in preventing the rusting, making it stainless. Stainless steel also has high heat resistance that makes it an ideal material for industrial use. There are different grades for stainless steel that decides its durability and reliability. Stainless steel is highly used for piping purposes as its properties create a favourable situation to emerge as promising piping material. Specific types of stainless steel are denoted as a three-digit number, for instance, 416 stainless steel tube.

The Significance of Stainless Steel

For over the years, stainless steel has been used in the construction industry. It is viewed as a reliable, durable and more flexible alternative to iron. Due to its set of drawbacks, iron cannot be qualified as the ideal metal for industries that work in unfavourable conditions. That’s where stainless steel outshines the others. There are several advantages to choosing stainless steel over others. For instance, it can be used in pipe works, fire sprinklers, networks, etc. Stainless steel tubes and pipes have several industrial and residential applications as well. Over the years, the use of stainless steel has only increased for the better. The widespread of stainless steel started when people started realising its beneficial properties.

What Do You Get From Stainless Steel Pipes?

One of the significant advantages of stainless steel that makes it a popular choice among the industries is its durability. There’s no other metal element that can compete with stainless steel in terms of sustainability. High heat resistance and corrosion resistance are some of the other features of stainless steel that makes them so popular. Iron can quickly rust and corrode when it is exposed to some natural elements. Stainless steel, on the other hand, can withstand unfavourable conditions and can be exposed to water, or gas without any problem. That’s the reason industries choose stainless steel over the others.

Stainless steel can also tolerate heavy shocks and vibrations. That means it can be used for heavy-duty tasks as well. Whether it is underground construction or chemical reactivity, stainless steel pipes can be used in every possible heavy-duty task.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to piping material, stainless steel will always remain a choice of material for all the constructors. The range of properties and specifications it has cannot be compared with other metals. Furthermore, stainless steel is easily available and affordable, as well. You would not need to spend much to invest in this reliable and versatile material. It is essential to understand the benefits of stainless steel and then make its optimal use.

Effects of alloying elements in stainless steel

Nickel in steel increases resistance to mineral acid, produces tightly adhering High temperature oxides.
Molybdenum in steel increases resistance to chloride (Pitting Corrosion).
Copper in steel increases resistance to sulphuric acid.
Titanium in steel stabilize carbides to prevent formation of chromium carbide.
Niobium in steel stabilize carbides to prevent formation of chromium carbide.
Lower Carbon content of 304L, 316L and 317L help reduce sensitization.
Sulfur and Selenium increases machinability of the steel. e.g. 303, 303se
Lack of nickel in stainless steel makes it magnetic.