Stainless steel is just regular steel that is composed of iron and carbon, but with chromium and other alloys added to enhance performance. With chromium added to the steel there is a protective surface that keeps air and water from corroding the steel as it is naturally intended to do. Other alloys such as nickel, silicon, nitrogen, carbon, and manganese are added to enhance other properties of steel including malleability, durability, thermal conductivity, and cleanability. Stainless steel is used in products such as refrigerators, stoves, backsplashes, faucets, ceiling and flooring tiles, woven metal screens, and laminates.
There are many types of stainless steels, but the one most commonly used in architecture and design is austenitic. This type of stainless steel is high in chromium and has excellent heat and corrosion resistance. Austenitic stainless steel is used in products such as industrial piping, construction, and facades.
Just like steel and other metals, stainless steel is also recyclable and reusable without losing any of its original properties. When it comes to scrap metals, stainless steel is highly valued and the scraps can be reused or melted with other stainless steel scraps to make a larger material.
