Today, stainless steel can be seen in most consumer and commercial items. While it is actually a bore to wonder about the history behind its creation and even the general information regarding such a metal alloy. But for everyone’s benefit, here’s an extensive guide to stainless steel.

General Facts

In the metallurgy world, stainless steel is known as inox iron. The term comes from the French word “inoxydable”. Surprisingly, this metal alloy is not 100% stain-proof, but is more resistant to corrosion and rust than ordinary metals. What makes stainless steel different from the average steel is its level of chromium. Once the steel is unprotected, it gets corroded when exposed to air and moisture. But, with the stainless steel’s film, which is made of chromium oxide, steel corrosion is prevented from digging further into the insides of the metal substance.

Since stainless steel requires no maintenance and prevents stains and corrosion, it is a popular material that can be used in a lot of applications such as in cables, chemical tanks, cutlery, construction components, food preparation areas, heat exchangers, medical equipment, sheets, and many others. Stainless steel is largely utilised in the manufacturing of bathroom accessories and lavatory partitions.

This specific metal alloy was not that known until the year 1821 when Pierre Berthier, a French geologist and mining engineer, discovered corrosion invulnerable steel-chromium. He thought that stainless steel would be great in producing cutlery as the material is acid-resistant.

In the late nineteenth century, Hans Goldschmidt, a German chemist, developed a way to create chromium without the carbon. It was between 1904 and 1911 when the first alloys similar to the stainless steel we have today were fabricated.

By the year 1912, English metallurgist Harry Brearley, who hailed from Sheffield, England, was able to find a martensitic stainless steel alloy during his search for a corrosion-resistant metal to be used in making gun barrels. This discovery was not yet made known to the public until a few years later by the New York Times.

The metal alloy we use today is widely applied in different industries due to its features. Such include resistance to steel corrosion, heat and impact, aesthetic appearance, ease of fabrication, and long-term value.

If you are looking for a protective coating for stainless steel, contact Unituff today.

For more information, contact us on +61 400 796 022 or +1 832-533-5628 or sales@unituffglobal.com.