Stainless Steel Grates

Stainless Steel Grates

Used for drainage, support, filtration, partition and enclosure formation, steel grates are employed in many different environments and may be made of a number of different materials. The beneficial attributes of stainless steel, however, make it a popular choice for grate construction. As indicated in the name, this steel alloy does not rust, corrode or stain easily. This allows its use in a variety of industrial applications involving volatile or corrosive fluids and gases. Additionally, stainless steel is known for its high tensile strength and durability. These properties and others make this material a popular choice from many industrial, commercial and even residential grates which may be high demand applications. Food processing and preparation, chemical processing, industrial flooring, oil and gas producers, metal and mining facilities, pulp and paper plants as well as shipbuilding industries make frequent use of these metal grates. Outdoor drainage and non-slip surfaces such as ramps, stairs, docks, catwalks and footbridges also utilize this resilient material for necessary grating. An aesthetically pleasing metal, stainless steel grates can be both functional and decorative elements utilized in traditional grate formations such as I-bar, rectangular bar and plank as well as intricate designer arrangements.

Steel is one of the most common alloys in use today. Made predominantly of iron and varying amounts of carbon, steel alloys include a wide variety of additional metallic components. Chromium is an essential ingredient in the creation of stainless steel. Grates made of this material have a formula that consists of at least 10% chromium and this element is responsible for the extreme resistance to wear and corrosion of stainless steel. The first step in creating stainless steel grates is to mix and melt or sinter metal powders together and cast them into stock shapes. These rods, sheets and bars are then further processed to create the grid and mesh of a grate. Expansion grating and bar grating are the most popular techniques used to manufacture stainless steel grates. Expansion metal is created by perforating a steel sheet and stretching it to form diamond-shaped openings. Bar grating joins steel rods together through welding, swaging, pressure-locking or riveting, creating a high-strength, load bearing grate. The process used for a specific grate depends largely on the intended use and specifications required of it. Serration or non-slip coatings are often utilized for floor gratings made of stainless steel to add traction. While finishing is an important factor in manufacturing grates, additional considerations include the size, shape and density of the holes or gaps in a given grate as well as connection size.