Stainless Steel Suppliers

This website can aid in locating stainless steel suppliers to match what your needs. There is an abundance of uses for stainless steel, and an abundance of stainless steel suppliers. There are suppliers throughout the United States in places like Ohio and Illinois. There are also lots of suppliers located overseas.

Stainless steel is a steel alloy containing a minimum of 10.5 to 11% chromium. Stainless steel does not stain, corrode, or rust as easily as ordinary steel. It is not stain proof, but stains less, thus the name stainless steel. There can be different grades and finishes of stainless steel depending on the environment in which the material will be subjected. Some of the common uses of stainless steel are watch cases and bands, and cutlery.

Stainless steel is different from carbon steel because of the amount of chromium present. Carbon steel will rust when exposed to air and moisture. Stainless steels have enough chromium present to form a passive film of chromium oxide which prevents any further surface corrosion and blocks the corrosion from spreading into the metal's internal structure.

Stainless Steel Suppliers -History of Stainless Steel

In 1821 French metallurgist Pierre Berthier first recognized the corrosion resistance of iron-chromium alloys. He noticed that these alloys were resistant against some acids and suggested it be used in making cutlery. Metallurgists of the 19th century, however, were unable to produce the right combination of low carbon and high chromium that is found in most modern stainless steels, and the alloys they could produce were too brittle to be useful.

High oxidation-resistance can normally be achieved with adding of a minimum of 13% chromium, up to 26% if it is to be used in harsh environments. The chromium forms a passivation layer when exposed to oxygen. The layer of chromium oxide (Cr₂O₃) is not visible to the naked eye, and the metal remains lustrous. It is not affected by water or air, thereby protecting the metal beneath. The layer also quickly reforms if the surface is scratched. This is called passivation and can be seen in other metals like aluminum and titanium. The alloy’s resistance to corrosion can be adversely affected if the component is used in a non-oxygenated environment, like being underwater keel-bolts buried in wood.

If stainless steel parts are forced together, the oxide layer can be scraped off making the parts weld together. This can happen with nuts and bolts. When taken apart, the welded material may be torn and pitted. This effect is known as galling. The bests way to avoid this destructive galling is the use of dissimilar materials like bronze to stainless steel, or even different types of stainless steels. It should also be noted that Nitronic alloys (trademark of Armco, Inc.) can reduce the tendency to gall by alloying with manganese and nitrogen.

Stainless steel’s resistance to staining and corrosion, its low maintenance, relatively low cost, and familiar luster make it an ideal base material for a number of commercial applications. There are over 150 grades of stainless steel. Of these, fifteen are most common. The alloy can be milled into coils, sheets, plates, bars, wire, and tubing. These can them be used in cutlery, cookware, surgical instruments, hardware, major appliances, industrial equipment, and in automotive and aerospace structures as well as construction material in large buildings. Storage tanks and tankers that are used to transport orange juice and other foods will often be made of stainless steel because of its corrosion resistance and antibacterial properties. This also makes it attractive for use in commercial kitchens and food processing plants. Stainless steel can also be steam cleaned, sterilized, and does not need to be painted like some other surfaces.

Stainless steel can also be used for jewelry and watches. The most common stainless steel alloy for this application is 316L. It can be re-finished by any jeweler and will not oxidize or turn black.

Some firearms use stainless steel parts as an alternative to blued or parkerized steel. Some are even made entirely from stainless steel like the Smith and Wesson Model 60 and the Colt M1911. This gives the gun a high-luster finish similar to nickel plating, but the finish is not subject to flaking, peeling, or wearing off due to rubbing (being repeatedly removed from a holster), or rust when scratched.

There are different types of stainless steels. Adding nickel can make steels non- magnetic and less brittle at low temperatures. Carbon can be added for greater strength and hardness. With adequate heat treatment these steels can be used as razor blades, sharp tools, and cutlery.

Depending on what you are looking for in the use of stainless steel, there is a stainless steel supplier to meet that need. You will find a variety of stainless steel suppliers with advertising links on this site.