What is Stainless Steel Plate and Why Do We Use Them?
There are many reasons why stainless steel plates are used for a wide variety of applications and products. One main reason is because of its high resistance to oxidation and corrosion. It is also resistant to abrasion and is easy to clean.
Stainless steel plates (and stainless steel in general) are also easy to form, has a clean and attractive appearance, and are relatively light yet very durable. These are also pretty malleable without compromising on strength, making it ideal for use with a lot of things.
Stainless steel is used by a huge number of industries and by many businesses due to this versatility, strength and corrosion resistance. The usage of these plates often depends on the plate grade. With so many plate grades available, you can be sure that this particular metal does see itself being used for a huge number of applications.
The different grades used to classify stainless steel plates consist of numbers and numbers with the letters H and L in the combinations. Which industry uses this particular metal and for what purpose depends on the steel plate grade. Stainless steel that comes with letters in their grade means something and this dictates where these can be used.
The H and L used in stainless steel grades often refer to whether it has low or high carbon content. L is for stainless steel plates with low carbon and H is for those with high carbon. When a plate grade does not carry any of these two letters, these are then called straight grades. Straight grade stainless steel is known to carry at least .08% carbon in them, but there is no strict requirement stating that these metals need to have a minimum amount of carbon in them.
To further help you understand the uses of these different stainless steel grades, here are some of the more commonly produced stainless steel plate grades and where these are utilized:
304 – This comes in three variations – 304, 304H and 304L. Part of the 300 series, this particular plate grade is often used in the food and beverage industry. This is due to the fact that this particular grade has the ability to keep contamination probabilities very low. This metal contains around 18% chromium and around 8% nickel.
316 – Also part of the 300 series, this particular grade contains between 16% to 18% chromium and approximately 11% to 14% nickel. This is often used for environmental and marine applications due to its resistance to corrosion brought about by salty water.
410 – This is heat treatable steel and can be used for the manufacture of surgical instruments, as well as strainers used in the food industry.
Stainless steel plates are extremely important for use in niche markets all over the world. It plays a vital role in the construction industries and assists in the creation of both buildings and other everyday items. The cost of stainless steel plate will vary depending on the size and quality.
Often people will get confused between the terms sheet metal and plate metal. They are in fact two different products that are defined by their thickness. A sheet is far thinner than a plate and will normally be less than 3mm. Simply remember that the two products are not the same and in most cases you will need to use plates when working in the industrial industry.
The stainless steel plate is made by first rolling out sheets of metal at a high temperature. During this process it will begin to gain strength. The metal will be compressed and layered on top of each other to create different widths and sizes. This process will help to create the proper dimensions. Depending on the final product will determine how much you can expect to pay. The price is also determined by the type of steel sheet that is manufactured and which elements or ingredients were used to create it.
What are stainless steel plates used for?
Stainless steel plates are used in a variety of different industries and are an essential aspect in some businesses. This product is a fantastic addition to these industries because it can be combined with other metals to form alloys. These alloys will then become corrosion resistant, stronger or lighter, depending on what metal it is mixed with. The construction industry uses them throughout their different projects. In most cases the steel that is used to create structural-grade plate for these projects will be, low-carbon steel. It is far more malleable then other steel and subsequently can be drilled and formed to create the desired end result.
Stainless steel plates although a simple product are extremely important, this is partly due to their versatility. Even if you end up buying a piece that is too big for your project you can keep the scraps for future and cut it down to the perfect size for the job at hand. The military use a higher grade version for use in their military vehicles and buildings. These are instrumental in making the vehicles stronger and safer for the Navy, Army and Air Force.
Apart from the practical reasons, this product is also popular with artists. Many sculptures are made out of steel. In fact artists will use both the sheets and the plates depending on the scale of their artwork. As they are items that can be manipulated, welded and cut into different shapes it is a fantastic material to use for artists. They can play around with different shapes and create edgy, hard, gothic looking sculptures and other pieces of eye catching art.
No matter what your use for steel plates is, you need to make sure that you have access to the best prices and high quality. To find the best quality you need not look any further than Steelmor Industries. As leaders in the steel industry, Steelmor Industries will be able to provide you with stainless steel plates or sheets for your construction or business requirements. To find out more about the products and services on offer through Steelmor Industries, visit their website Contact Us