Stainless Steel Advantages
APM Hexseal offers a variety of materials for our sealing solutions to suit the requirements of any application. However, stainless steel is our default material as it provides many benefits when compared to other common metals, making it ideal for various sealing applications across many industries.
Advantages of Stainless Steel
There are many advantages of stainless steel, one of the most obvious being its resistance to corrosion. This ability comes from 10.5% of its weight being made up of chromium, which creates an invisible chromium-oxide film on the surface, giving it the ability to self repair in the presence of oxygen. Corrosion resistance can be enhanced by increasing the chromium content or by adding other elements such as nickel, molybdenum, and titanium.
Stainless steel has a number of other advantages, including:
- Longer Life Span
- Strength
- Temperature Resistance
- 100% Recyclable
- Low Cost
- Aesthetic Appeal
- High Quality
- Low Maintenance
- Hygiene
These combined advantages make stainless steel ideal for use in fasteners, screws, and other sealing applications.
Stainless Steel vs. Other Common Metals
There are many other metals that offer different features for use in sealing applications; however stainless steel offers many benefits over these. These metals include:
- Other Grades of Steel. Steel can contain trace amounts of other elements such as manganese, chromium, nickel, and more, that each affect the properties of the alloy. Steel is a hard, strong, durable, and malleable alloy composed of iron and carbon.
- Aluminum. Similar to stainless steel, aluminum offers corrosion resistance; however it is weaker against certain elements. This nonmagnetic metal is 1/3 the weight of steel, is ductile with high heat, and offers electric conductivity.
- Chrome. Chrome offers corrosion resistance and a pleasant appearance, but it is an expensive alloy to use.
- Silicon Bronze. Made up of silicon, tin, and copper, this material is often used in marine environments due to its corrosion resistance and high strength; however, it is an expensive material.
- Copper. Copper is nonmagnetic and offers corrosion resistance, heat and electrical conductivity, and low to average strength. Strength can be increased by adding other metals.
- Brass. Brass is a nonmagnetic alloy that offers electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, and low to average strength.
- Titanium. Titanium is a gray, low density, lightweight, corrosion resistant, and high strength metal.