Stainless Steel Plate
Stainless steel is formed into stock plates during the initial ore manufacturing
process, to be fabricated later by machining, roll forming, etching, cutting
or other fabrication methods. Plates are square or rectangular blocks, usually
more than one half inch thick, and they are often used as raw material by metal
fabricators. Round bar stock, square bar stock, coils and sheets are other types of stock stainless steel is formed into before fabrication.
Stainless steel plates are used commonly by many industries, from automotive
parts manufacturers to contractors and aerospace manufacturers who find stainless
steel's uniform resistance to corrosion and its structural strength extremely
useful. These properties of strength and corrosion resistance make stainless
steel one of the most useful metals in construction, equipment and parts manufacturing,
and many materials which are made from stainless steel are fabricated from
stainless steel plates.
Stainless steel is an alloy of regular steel (iron ore which has been highly
refined) and at least 10% chromium, along with much smaller amounts of carbon,
nickel, molybdenum, silicone and aluminum in various combinations. The alloyed
chromium forms a "passivation" layer of chromium oxide on the surface
of the stainless steel plate or part, effectively preventing the iron molecules
in the steel from reacting with oxygen in the air or water and creating iron
oxide, or rust. This protective layer easily reforms when scratched, making
parts fabricated from stainless steel plates impervious to air or water corrosion.
Industrial, commercial, automotive, aerospace, medical, petro-chemical and
tool manufacturing industries fabricate stainless plates into various parts
and products which require a sanitary, non-corrosive or low weight-to-mass
ratio metal. Sinks, countertops and utensils in both commercial and residential
kitchens are often made from stainless steel, which is self-sanitizing and
can be washed continuously without rusting. Buildings and monuments such as
the Chrysler Building and St. Louis' Gateway Arch are plated in stainless
steel sheets, which weathering does not rust or tarnish. Steel is too heavy
to make car bodies out of, but stainless steel plays an important role in many
automotive parts which require strength and corrosion resistance under harsh
conditions; wheel hubs, exhaust kits, gas tanks, gear shafts and trim are often
machined from stainless steel plates. Even furniture is made from stainless
steel plates and rods, making stainless steel one of the most versatile and
most necessary metal alloys.