Stainless Steel Plate

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.

Stainless Steel Plate Image Provided by Skorr Steel Company, Inc.