AISI 304 Stainless Steel – A Brief Explanation
Constructing industrial equipment requires a range of materials and machinery. Among the items needed to construct stone fabrication machines and equipment you will find motors, valves, and a host of other pieces, parts, and accessories. Engineers use AISI 304 stainless steel for a Filter Project equipment. In this article we will look at AISI 304 stainless steel and consider what makes it a good choice for our machines.
What Is AISI 304 Stainless?
Steel comes in an array of types. And one type of steel is stainless steel. furthermore, each type of stainless steel has a specific set of properties. Additionally, these properties are determined by the metals that make up the stainless steel. AISI 304 stainless steel has the following:
- Chromium content ranging from 15% thru 20%
- Nickel content between 2 thru 10.5%
304 stainless steel is the most common stainless steel. Perhaps it is because of the many benefits of the characteristics this metal offers. So let’s consider some of those practical benefits now.
What Are the Benefits
A number of industries use stainless steel for many tools, machines, and parts. This is because 304 stainless steel brings many benefits that translate into significant advantages over other metals. Among the pros of 304 stainless steel are:
- Corrosion Resistance
- Ease of Weldability
- Malleability
- Non-Magnetic
- Hygienic
Engineers choose it for making various equipment because it is easier to shape that other metals. Also, the ease of welding is also a factor in the choosing of 304 stainless steel. Perhaps a primary benefit of this metal though, is the fact that it resists corrosion very well. In fact, it is a metal that does not rust. This is very practical in environments where there is significant moisture and/or water.
Stainless Durability
304 stainless steel is a durable metal that can resist a number of potential “metal destroyers”. Hence, as you can see from the list above, the resistance to rust is a good advantage to have if you are building a water treatment plant. Rust consumes metal machines relatively quickly. However, stainless steel is one of the metals that is not affected by this type of corrosion the way other metals are. This contributes to the durability of stainless steel along with other benefits in that list above.
It is malleable but it does not chip or crack. Those properties are a perfect blend. Shape-able material is good and you don’t want it to split, or break. That is exactly what you get with stainless.
The Versatility of Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is durable and it is also versatile. And that might be because of its durability too. When you look at the many uses for 304 stainless steel, you begin to realize just how helpful some of its properties truly are. For example the following list enumerates some of the most common uses for stainless steel:
- Cookware
- Medical Instruments
- Automotive Parts
- Supermarkets
- Architecture
- Oil Industry
- Chemical Companies
- Household Appliances
- Stone Fabrication Industry
- Construction Companies
- Energy Industry
- Catering Services
It’s no wonder that this material is found in so many of those industries. Its durability, shape-ability, and versatility just make it so beneficial for so many things.
Stainless Steel In Stone Fabrication
Fabricating natural and engineered stone materials takes advantage of the benefits of stainless steel. For example, some of the machinery used in stone fabrication is composed of stainless steel parts. Rails, table top rollers, and other mechanisms are just some of the parts that are formed from stainless steel.
Other stone fabrication equipment that makes use of stainless steel (as an option) is our compact water treatment plants for stone fabrication. These plants must be durable and resistant to rusting. Stainless steel does both.
In the end, 304 Stainless Steel is a versatile, durable, and practical metal that can be seen in just about any industry. In the stone fabrication industry, it is a vital key in bringing home and business owners interior decor that they dream of.