About Stainless Steel: Alloy of Iron & Other Elements
Unlike plain steel, stainless steel is a powerful alloy fusing iron with other chemical additives. The resulting shiny, reflective metal is highly resistance to corrosion & difficult to tarnish.
Forming Stainless Steel: A Life Cycle
How Stainless Steel is Manufacturered
From ores deep in the earth, to shining finished products in our homes, offices, under the sea and in the sky, the elements making up stainless steel go through an amazing process of manufacturing. For more than 200 years, industrious people have developed and refined the stainless steel making process into the efficient and sustainable practices we see around the world today.
Raw Materials are Melted
The raw materials up stainless steel (such as nickel, chromium, molybdenum and carbon) are gathered together, placed in a furnace, and heated for 8 to 12 hours to their melting point.
The process by which the material is melted results in a liquid form - the bright orange molten metal can then begin further refinement and processing.
Excess Carbon is Removed
The molten steel is added to a chamber called a Vacuum Oxygen Decarburization (VOD) system, which begins the process of removing excess carbon from the material.
It's here where the first decision is made - the amount of carbon removed at this point determines the type of alloy that will result. Hardness and tensile strength is affected by the amount of carbon removed.
Stirring or Tuning the Metal
When more than elements are mixed, stirring helps to create a uniform distribution of each. Just like baking a cake, the results are best when the batter is stirred evenly.
Uniformity of the material is the key here, so comprehensive and smooth agitation ensures a high quality mixture.
Forming the Metal
Now the stainless steel can begin the forming process. As the material starts to cool, but before the temperature falls below the crystallization mark, the process is called hot rolling.
While hot rolling gives the metal its first rough shape, the precise dimensions required for most applications are achieved once the metal cools further, via the process of cold rolling.
Heat Treatment or Annealing
Imperfections within the material, called stresses, are removed by heating and cooling the metal through a series of controlled manipulations. This process is called annealing.
Annealing is used to soften the metal for cold rolling later, increase the machinability of the material or to alter its electrochemical properties. This is a critical step that can determine the uses of any particular steel alloy.
Cutting & Shaping
Once the metal has been annealed, it's time for the first series of shaping steps. From huge shears that cut off giant slabs for use as plates, to small punches that create more precise shapes, the shaping will be determined by the needs of the application.
Because of the variability of the material, and with so many industries using the metal for so many different applications, stainless steel's workability makes it one of the most popular materials on the planet.
Applying Surface Finishes
Again, depending on the application, the finish applied to the stainless steel can vary greatly. At the time of manufacturer, it can be left plain, or cleaned and polished down to a fine smooth finish.
Ultimately, the end user of the stainless steel will determine how finished the surface needs to be. It can be left rough, or polished to a mirror-like shine. Such is the versatility of this marvelous material.
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