When stainless steel was initially discovered in the early 1900s, it was known originally as “rustless steel,” for the obvious reason that it did not seem to rust. Indeed, being an alloy of iron, chromium, nickel, and other elements, stainless steel possesses a host of unique properties that make it highly useful in a variety of contexts and industries, ranging from construction to jewelry-making.

Stainless steel can compete with higher-cost engineering metals and alloys based on nickel or titanium, whilst offering a range of corrosion-resisting properties suitable for a wide range of applications. Stainless steel can be manipulated and fabricated using a wide range of commonly available engineering techniques and are fully “recyclable” at the end of its useful life.

GET DISADVANTAGES OF STAINLESS STEEL INFORMATION

Advantages of Stainless Steel

Stainless steel has a number of properties that make it extremely useful. Because of the way in which the different metals within it interact with one another, stainless steel is highly resistant to oxidation, which is a complicated way of saying that it does not rust easily, and is capable of remaining in mint condition for many years. This makes stainless steel an ideal material for kitchens and kitchen appliances such as pots and pans, as it is capable of interacting with foods and liquids without developing rust.

Its resistance to oxidation, as well as its hardness, also makes stainless steel indispensable to the surgical industry, as it can be used to make surgical instruments that must remain absolutely free of rust and stains in order to be usable on patients.

Further, stainless steel has a very high melting point, making it valuable in innumerable fields related to construction and machine-building. Stainless steel also has a very high-pressure point, making it vital in manufacturing storage containers.

Disadvantages of Stainless Steel

Difficult to Handle

One of the most notable limitations of stainless steel is that it can be difficult to handle. Welding and other methods of metal fabrication can be tricky when it comes to stainless steel due to its high melting point. While the melting point of stainless steel makes it great for construction and machine-building applications, this specific feature can also be a weakness of the material, especially when it is being processed into different products. Additional resources are required just to enable the processing of stainless steel.

Expensive Costs

Another known limitation of stainless steel is its overall cost. The processes needed to fabricate the stainless steel appropriately, which include welding, polishing, and finishing, would often require tools that can handle its delicate melting point. Once the processing of the material fails, then another set of stainless steel would be required to produce and rework the needed product. These issues alone deter some businesses and industries from utilizing and maximizing stainless steel materials, despite their promise of useful features and properties.

Maintenance Issues

When it comes to stainless steel products, some of them can be difficult to maintain as they tend to attract more dirt compared to other products. The surface of stainless steel can easily collect fingerprints, smudges, dust, and other particles that can affect the appearance of the products. The marks from spills can also stay on the surface for a long time. Therefore, stainless steel products in areas where cleaning is not done regularly can quickly affect the appearance of the surroundings. Fortunately, wiping them with an appropriate cloth can help remove these elements in just a short time.