Stainless steel Uses in Industries - Slew

Applications of Stainless Steel in Industrial Applications

Stainless Steel

No one needs an introduction to stainless steel which is an essential part of daily life. Unique properties of stainless steel like strength, resistance to corrosion and low maintenance have led to many industrial applications. A very versatile material, stainless steel was largely used for cutlery in the past but it is now widely applied to many industries such as chemical, pharmaceutical, food processing, etc. This blog focuses on applications of stainless steel in different industrial applications.

What is Stainless Steel?

An alloy of iron, stainless steel has a minimum of 10.5% chromium in its making. The chromium envelopes a thin layer of oxide upon the surface of steel. This is known as the passive layer that prevents any further corrosion of the iron surface. Additionally, amounts of chromium provide increased resistance to corrosion. There are also varying amounts of manganese, silicon and carbon in stainless steel. At times if required for industrial application, metals like molybdenum and nickel are also added to impart useful properties like increased corrosion resistance and enhanced formability. Stainless steel is one of the most reliable metal for industrial applications.

Various Industries using Stainless Steel

Chemical and Processing Industries : This is the most demanding industry requiring stainless steel. Chemical and processing industries have generated a large market for stainless steel valves, pumps, pipes and tanks as well. The first major success story came from grade 304 stainless steel which was the storage tank of dilute nitric acid. Thinner sections were used that were more robust than other materials. A variety of special grade stainless steels have also been developed for considerably greater corrosion resistance and for withstanding a wide range of different temperatures.

Oil & Gas Industries : As the demand for petroleum products has grown with time, Chemical and mechanical engineering advances are being sought to increase product yields and improve plant operating reliability. These methods have further created more demand for the high-alloy, corrosion-resistant steels, especially stainless steels, to cope with a wide variety of raw crudes. .

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Power Generation : Corrosion resistant alloys and stainless steel are extensively used in the power generation industry. Stainless steel and nickel alloys are used for oxidation resistance and high-temperature strength in fossil-fueled power plants including flue gas desulfurization units. Large quantities of stainless steel are also used in the nuclear power industry with low cobalt content. Special louvered ventilation shafts are designed to be utilized during emergencies for sealing off plants when required. Gas turbines and steam use stainless steel due to its heat-resisting and corrosion resisting properties.

Food Production Industries : Considerable amounts of stainless steel are used for storage and processing in the food production industries. Grades 304 and 316 are the most preferred. While grade 316 is used in harsher environments, grade 304 is the workhorse. The main reason for using stainless steel in the food production industry is it allows faster and more efficient cleaning process. Grade 316 for example, is used for ice cream production for its strong anti-bacteriological cleaning and rinsing systems that can be utilized. Another great advantage of stainless steel within the food industry is that it imparts no taste to food than the original one.

Medical Applications : Clean melted stainless steel is utilized for medical implants as well. There are many other medical applications of stainless steel in this sector like examination machines, cabinets and orthopedic beds which are hygienic and easy to clean. Pharmaceutical companies also use stainless steel for hoppers, pill funnels, and piping creams or solutions.

Automotive Industries : Increased use of stainless steel for making grade 409 exhausts and catalytic converters and structures of cars are observed. The metal is great for achieving long-term maintenance costs, life cycle costs and causing less environmental impact. These are some of the reasons for the stainless steel market that continues to grow at a good pace.

Construction Sector: Architecture, building and construction is another growing market sector for stainless steel. There are many architects and engineers out there who prefer to use steel and fabricated steel products. There are various sections where stainless steel is utilized like roofing, facades, platforms, handrails, ladders, girders, beams and more where stainless steel is utilized. Then there are the megastructures like warehouses, bridges and other parts of buildings. It is almost impossible nowadays to imagine the construction industry without making use of steel. Though initially expensive, stainless steel reinforcing bars are also proving to be cost-effective since they provide a longer life cycle.

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Aerospace Industry : This industry as such involves designing and producing aircrafts; both for commercial and defense purposes. Stainless steel is widely used in defense sectors too like the navy, air force and the army. Metallic sections are needed in almost all sections of fabricating, assembly and integration works. The spacecraft industry also uses a variety of stainless steel for manufacturing spaceships.

Energy Sector : Widely utilized and used in the energy sector including the sustainable ones, stainless steel is used by wind energy companies, solar energy components manufacturing industries, nuclear energy companies and oil and gas companies. Stainless steel products that are commonly used in the energy sector include sections like electromagnetic shields, transformer cores, electromagnets, transmission towers, wind turbines, electricity power turbine components, pipelines, platforms and oil and gas wells.

Mining Industry : Steel is an integral part of the mining industry. Core mining procedure involves plenty of tools and machinery that involve metal fabrication to an extent. The most common equipment that is used in the mining industry are shovels, loaders, trucks and draglines. All of these are made from fabricated steel sections. These steel sections are normally used for making fittings, piping, grading, rods, beams and rails.

Ship Building Process : Typically, the shipbuilding industry heavily relies on metal fabrication including stainless steel for creating equipment and fabrication. Stainless steel flooring, grating, constructing ladders, conveyance tubing, steel sheet for hulls, stairs and platforms are most common. Steel fabrication is also quite often used for repair and maintenance of ships including from the military sector.

In addition to corrosion resistance, various other characteristics of stainless-steel like high and low temperature resistance, ease of fabrication, high strength, aesthetic appeal, hygiene along with ease of cleaning, long life cycle, recyclability and low magnetic permeability are slowly but steadily finding its way into new applications daily. Stainless steel has several shining elements to bring sheen to fabrication.