HOW IS STAINLESS STEEL PRODUCED?

Stainless steel has been touted for its ubiquitous practical uses, making appearances in the architectural, automotive, kitchen, home, and industrial applications of manufacturing. Stainless steel contains a high resistance to corrosion resulting from a range of atmospheric conditions and extreme changes in pH, making it low maintenance. Its ability to withstand high magnitudes of temperature in both directions, high pressure, and still be malleable and ductile makes stainless steel the ideal material for fashioning lasting, highly used products. Even after its useful life, stainless steel is easy to recycle and fetches a high scrap value.

Stainless steel attributes its unique properties to chromium metal. By nature, stainless steel is a low carbon steel that includes at least ten percent chromium metal by weight in its composition. This is what is responsible for its stainless property. The chromium oxide forms a film non-detectable to the naked eye on the surface of the steel, which is flexible and self-healing in the presence of oxygen gas.

Stainless steel itself is made in an electric arc furnace. Within the furnace, carbon electrodes that are positioned to make contact with scraps of steel blast currents through them. The scraps of steel do not only have to be mixed with chromium. Other elements can be added to enhance the properties of stainless steel, including nickel, nitrogen, and molybdenum. All of this electrode-induced activity takes place in a very high temperature environment.