As alloy steels began to develop years ago, a new variety of metals surfaced. A unique combination of chromium and carbon uncovered one of the industry’s most superior grades of steel- – stainless. During early experimentation, different amounts of chromium were added to steel, strengthening it, but at levels higher or lower than what was needed to make stainless steel. Levels of Chromium at 10-27 percent, in addition to a carbon content less than 0.2 percent, led to carbon reacting with oxygen in the air, creating a film on the surface of steel. It’s this film that acts as a protective layer, resisting oxidation and heat, that gives stainless steel its non-corrosive, rust-resistant properties.
While others have made great contributions to the alloying of steel, Britain’s Harry Brearley, an expert in steel analysis, recognized that stainless steel had more practical uses. He was the first to develop a grade of stainless that contained 12.8 percent chromium. It was when Brearley began testing other chemicals against stainless that he noticed this particular metal was also corrosion resistant. He introduced the high-strength, rustless metal to England’s cutlery industry. Sheffield, England was the first to mass-produce a stainless steel product. Stainless has become popular in the food, medicine, and transportation industries, and its unique properties make it beneficial in the preparation, delivery, and storage of food, in addition to modern stainless steel kitchen design. Since 1912, stainless steel has become a metal that influences our lives every day.
Starland Metals has been in the business of top-quality metal manufacturing and parts fabrication since 1988.