Steel can undergo large plastic deformation before failure and thus has a large reserve strength (called ductility). Basically, a ductile structure has a high level of energy absorbing capacity and will not incur sudden failure.
The demand of metals is linked with economic growth. The variety of metal use in society grew rapidly throughout the 20th century and now with the development of large nations, such as China and India, there is an even greater demand.
Want to make sure that your stainless steel stays in the best shape? Simply make sure that it’s cleaned regularly and has access to oxygen. Keeping it clean will bring the metal in contact with the air, and the oxygen will create the film of chromium oxide that keeps the steel corrosion free.
Praised by Ovid, Noric steel was used by the legions of the Roman Empire. It was produced from ore mined in mountains located in present-day Austria. These geographical features are still known as Erzberg, or “ore mountain.”
Nickel is often added to help improve formability in stainless steel. Can you guess two common SAE International stainless steel alloy grades that use nickel? If you guessed 316 and 304 stainless, you're right.
In steel fabrication, manual metal arc (MMA) welding is used to temporarily join weld components before full-strength welding. Here, an electrode contacts the work piece, and the flux coating on the welding rod is heated to a gas and liquid, shielding the molten puddle from the atmosphere.
Adding trace metals can help increase the tensile strength of aluminum. What metals are often used for this purpose? If you guessed that metals like manganese, silicone, copper and magnesium are sometimes used to strengthen aluminum, you're right.
In high humidity or underwater applications, stainless steel can turn white or show signs of corrosion, especially brushed stainless. Most of this can be quickly removed by rubbing it with a soft cloth and a polishing compound formulated specifically for stainless steel. Coat it with a chrome polish for protection. Do not use metal wool.
Aluminum is added to a brass alloy to make the resulting metal stronger and more resistant to corrosion. The aluminum also reacts chemically to form a transparent layer of aluminum oxide on the surface that has self-healing properties.
What makes stainless steel “stainless?” When the chromium in stainless steel reacts with oxygen it forms a chrome-oxide surface layer that prevents more oxygen from rusting the surface. The surface becomes even more resistant with higher levels of chromium and the addition of other alloy elements, like nickel.
Cold rolled steel is produced in sheets, rods, bars, and strips, which are usually smaller than materials produced through hot rolling. Cold rolled products, however, are harder and have a better surface finish than hot rolled items.
Some of the main conditions that cold-rolled sheets and strips come in are full-hard, half-hard, quarter-hard, and skin-rolled. Full-hard rolling reduces the thickness by 50 percent, while the others involve less of a thickness reduction.
Until the past few decades, cost was the only reason limiting the use of steel in residential construction. However, statistics show that eight out of ten commercial structures are now built with steel, according to industry statistics, and the cost of steel for homes has decreased over the years.
Did you know that stack cutting reduces labor costs and gas consumption per piece significantly? This process also increases the production rate simultaneously.
In 1751, David and William Geddy promoted their foundry with an advertisement that read: “… Harness Buckles, Coach Knobs, Hinges, Squares, Nails and Bullions, curious Brass Fenders and Fire dogs, House Bells of all sizes, Dials calculated to any Latitude …”
It's becoming more and more popular for steel to be used as a building material, and for good reason. A steel roof can be completely recycled, while asphalt roofs can't be recycled at all. Wood-framing a house can take over 40 trees, while a steel frame can be done with 4 recycled cars.
Unfortunately, not everyone has the ability to bend metal to fit the artistic vision they have for it in their head. If you need to make steel do something very specific for your sculpture, we may be able to help with it.
How green is steel? Because steel can be recycled repeatedly, most modern steel products contain some percentage of recycled content. Each aspect of the steel industry from producers to distributors and manufacturers contributes to this continuous recycling chain.
The fabrication of products made from stainless steel can be accomplished using the same procedures as for most other metals, although some minor adjustments may need to be made, most notably in the tools used to cut the raw stock.
Malleability refers to the amount of pressing and shaping a metal is able to take in the machining process. Ductility, on the other hand, refers to the length the material can be stretched without breaking.
For sustainable building materials, and environmentally friendly construction, few products surpass stainless steel. Not only will it last for centuries, it can be completely reclaimed and recycled once its service life has ended.
Brass is a combination of copper and zinc, usually found in the proportions of 65% to 35% respectively. As a non-ferrous metal, it is most commonly used for ornamental purposes and within electrical fittings.
