Tag: Steel Properties

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Stainless Steel as Protection Against Natural Disasters

Large Building Site

How does stainless steel help in withstanding natural disasters?

  1. High Level of Strength
  2. Withstands Corrosion
  3. High Elasticity Quotient
  4. Tolerates High Temperatures

 

It won’t be farfetched to think that one of the most widely-utilized metals for structural and constructional endeavors is stainless steel. This type of manufactured steel alloy possesses several qualities that offer structures more shape, form, and stability. Just some of the stainless steel properties which the construction industry looks out for, for example, is its high level of corrosion resistance, durability, and flexibility.

Because of these properties, stainless steel has arguably become the preferred structural and building material in order to combat and mitigate the effects of natural disasters on a building’s structural integrity.

It would be in the interest of constructional companies to use stainless steel mainly, or as part of their buildings, especially in the Philippines, which is frequently hit by natural disasters.

Continue reading to learn more about how structural stainless steel helps in tempering the consequences of natural disasters on such buildings.

 

High Level of Strength

Some of the most common natural disasters which afflict a country such as the Philippines would be typhoons and earthquakes. When people are met with an emergency situation, no doubt the first thing they have to think about is to take cover and avoid falling structures that may possibly physically harm them in some way.

Because of these seasonal disasters, constructional companies should have in mind, the concept of disaster-resilience when they’re planning construction efforts. In this regard, they take advantage of stainless steel’s high strength properties. While different types of steel alloy have differences in their composition, stainless steel is generally able to withstand high levels of stress and pressures that will eventually cause it to be damaged.

There are many types of ways by which the strength of stainless steel is increased, but this generally has to do with manipulating the alloy’s grain properties.

Just some of the manufactured stainless steel products which construction companies make use of include the reinforcing bar. This tough, bent, and irregularly shaped material is integrated first into the concrete mixture to provide a pillar or some other part of a building with more stability.

 

Withstands Corrosion

Long Corridor With Column

For any type of metal to become more useful in constructional undertakings, it has to be able to withstand high levels of corrosion. Natural disasters like typhoons inundate buildings with egregiously high levels of water and other fluid mixtures which can drastically alter a building’s properties. Though the effects are not instantaneous when a building is constantly subjected to prolonged levels of exposure to the elements, its physical qualities might also change.

When rain, for example, hits constructional materials like iron, over time, it might eventually lead to a rust formation on the iron’s surface. Iron easily reacts to the moisture present in the water, hence it can corrode easily.

On the other hand, stainless steel alloys don’t exhibit the same level of corrosion. This is because elements that cause rust, like water, oxygen, and saline-based solutions, just to name a few, have no, to very little effect on stainless steel.

This fact is useful to keep in mind, especially since stainless steel tubes and pipes are used as construction materials for bridges. Even after the passage of several years, the stainless steel remains intact despite exposure to the elements.

 

High Elasticity Quotient

Earthquakes are just some of the most destructive natural disasters which can hit a particular area at any time. When earthquakes happen, people more often than not flee away from large structures that might break at any given moment because of the high level of vibrations produced by the tectonic movements below the earth’s surface. This situation should be avoided at all costs, which is why another reason why stainless steel helps in the protection against natural disasters, is its high elasticity quotient.

Simply put, the elasticity quotient refers to the measure of how much vibrations the stainless steel is able to withstand. Stainless steel building materials like stainless steel beams help provide structures with more elasticity in order to prevent them from collapsing.

 

Tolerates High Temperatures

Power Plant Construction

Fires are another type of natural disaster that can totally cause a building’s structure to disintegrate. One of the reasons for this is that fire spreads quickly because of the high levels of oxygen in the air. If a building’s structure is predominantly made out of wood, which does not offer much stability and might cause the fire to reignite further, that mitigating the natural disaster might be more difficult than usual.

On the other hand, structures with stainless steel offer more stability. The reason for this is stainless less possesses a higher-than-usual tolerance for drastic changes in temperature. This type of material won’t easily melt when it comes into contact with fire, helping the structure to remain sound for a longer period of time. This fact also makes disaster rescue efforts faster, and more efficient.

 

Key Takeaway

The aim of every structure should be to possesses a very high level of preparedness against natural disasters. This is why stainless steel properties such as flexibility, durability, and high level of resistance to temperature changes, make it the preferred material for buildings.

Stainless steel can be said to have drastically altered industrial and constructional practices. The simple informational guide above has hopefully equipped you with a greater understanding of how stainless steel helps buildings in times of natural disasters.

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6 Factors to Consider When Choosing Between Aluminum and Steel

Different Kind Of Metallic Profiles

What are the important factors to consider when choosing between aluminum or steel?

  1. Durability
  2. Strength
  3. Corrosion Resistance
  4. Versatility
  5. Weight
  6. Cost

 

Aluminum and steel are some of the most utilized metals across different industries for a multitude of products and building projects. Steel is popular because of its high tensile strength, low cost, and recyclability. But don’t go calling your local stainless steel supplier right away because aluminum can still make a case for its worth.

Aluminum is the third most abundant metal in the earth’s crust. It also has the best strength-to-weight ratio and is unbeatable when it comes to the variety of its uses: automobile, motorcycle, and bicycle parts. It is also used in aircraft design and architectural moldings. Like steel (especially the stainless kind), it is also a very environmentally efficient metal which makes using either metal good for the environment.

 

  • Durability

The first and most apparent factor you are going to have to take into consideration is durability. Metals are typically known for their durability, but not all of them have the same kind of durability. The ability to withstand wear and tear, pressure, or damage varies from metal-to-metal and when it comes to steel and aluminum, there are some notable differences.

 

  • Strength

Metal Railing At The Facade Building Monochrome

Tensile strength is the name of the game when it comes to durability, and in that regard, steel is king. Tensile strength is the maximum amount of stretching or pulling a metal can withstand before it breaks or is permanently damaged. Without getting into specifics, steel and all of its sub-categories have a higher tensile strength than aluminum and its derivatives. This is by no means an indication that aluminum is a weak metal that easily breaks — steel is just a bit stronger.

 

  • Corrosion Resistance

Luckily for aluminum, tensile strength is not the only way to evaluate durability. Resistance to corrosion is also important to consider because metals become susceptible when exposed to the elements. Corrosion is a natural process that converts refined metals to a more chemically stable form (think of your oxides and sulfides).

That being said, steel is an alloy that is made up of refined metals like iron and copper, so they are pretty susceptible to rust. Despite that, the more popular derivative, stainless steel, has chromium added to its alloy formula to give it an anti-corrosion layer. This pretty much solves the corrosion problem.

Meanwhile, aluminum has an edge over steel in this regard because it does not contain steel or iron, meaning it does not rust. The thing is, rust is just one kind of corrosion that affects metals. Aluminum, when exposed to weathering and atmospheric oxygen, can oxidize and produce a layer of aluminum oxide. What’s interesting to note here is that aluminum oxide actually protects the metal from further corrosion. What this means is that the more aluminum corrodes, the more it is protected from further corrosion.

Either way, you really cannot go wrong. Both metals are competitively durable and have a good level of corrosive resistance. The important part here is knowing what kind of elements are present in the environment you are going to use the metal in before deciding which to use.

 

  • Versatility

Shiny Silver Metallic Textured Background

Versatility is where things start to favor aluminum. The “miracle metal” is well known for its malleability. This means it can be successfully de/reformed and bent into a variety of custom shapes or profiles without suffering noticeable breaks or cracks. Aluminum is also very ductile, allowing it to be stretched without breaking.

When it comes to temperature, aluminum is also the more versatile choice because it becomes harder as temperatures go lower. Steel, meanwhile, tends to become a little more brittle under cold temperatures and that affects its aforementioned tensile strength. Both metals and alloys have no problem withstanding high temperatures though and should hold up even in a fire. Just avoid touching it.

 

  • Weight

As previously stated, steel is stronger across the board, but aluminum wins the strength-to-weight ratio. This is why aluminum becomes the better choice in the production of transportation modes such as aircraft, automobiles, and locomotives. Lower weight means better fuel efficiency and faster speeds.

Steel, on the other hand, is heavy and is better for solid structures requiring stability and foundational strength. Seeing both metals incorporated in a multitude of ways isn’t an uncommon sight as products, buildings, and pretty much anything that can be built will always be better with steel and aluminum parts working together to full effect.

 

 

  • Cost

Stainless Steel Entrance Guard At Apartment Entrance

Lastly, cost should always be taken into consideration when choosing a metal to use for your respective purposes. In this regard, steel is usually less expensive, but it still depends on what kind of steel you are looking to get. Your run of the mill steel and carbon steel are less expensive than aluminum, while stainless steel is pricier. It all depends on your budget and the specific job you are going to use it for.

 

Key Takeaway

Steel and aluminum have their advantages and disadvantages, but what both have in common is that they are products of metallurgical ingenuity and are good for a number of different industrial purposes.

It all boils down to what you need to do, what your budget is, and what specific particulars you are going to be dealing with. Tailor your choice according to those, and you should be good to go.