Industrial & Manufacturing Blog
Steel fabrication spans across a range of industries, allowing the construction of modern society's most important buildings, bridges, and products. Of course, when a steel fabricator receives the raw materials, they go to work shaping and molding the metal into its new form. Due to the intense nature of this process, there are certain metals that are most commonly used. They are: copper, stainless steel, carbon steel, and aluminum.
1. Copper
Copper has been around the longest out of all these metals. Dating back to 8,000 BC, the use of copper was admired because of its malleability and abundance in nature. This is largely due to the fact that it is easy to work with and is one of the few native metals, meaning that it can be found on its own in nature. You've likely seen copper on pennies, but other applications include trimmings on hand railings, framing for buildings, and even decorative bowls.
2. Stainless Steel Fabrication
An alloy, stainless steel contains a mixture of metals, and is over 10% chromium. Its nature makes it resistant to most "staining", or rusting, and because of this, it has grown in popularity. Surgical instruments, military parts, food containers, and more are made with stainless steel in order to stand the test of time. Stainless steel is a common choice with welders due to its bendable nature. But cost does become a factor, as it is more expensive than its copper or steel counterparts.
3. Carbon Steel
Carbon steel is a versatile option used in a variety of applications in construction and other industries. The ease of use of this material, in addition to its strength under pressure, makes it an attractive choice for large scale industrial applications.
Bridge supports, ventilation ducts, and roadway grounding are all important uses of carbon steel. Because it is relatively lightweight and bulky for its size compared to other metals, carbon is ideal for these situations. However, if not galvanized, carbon steel can present problems such as breaking, chipping, or shearing.
4. Aluminum
When most people think of aluminum, they probably imagine a soda can or piece of tin foil. The truth is that aluminum is incredibly light and efficient for aeronautical space missions, radio tower antennas, and more. It doesn't rust as easily as other metals either, making it durable for the long-term applications so often needed in advanced industries.
When steel fabricators select their materials, many factors go into their decision. By comparing these four industry standbys, custom metal fabrication companies can assure the highest strength, efficiency, and overall value for any given project. For more information, contact Simko Industrial Fabricators or a similar company.
Share16 January 2015
Planning a large construction project can be stressful as the project leader. As a consultant for large construction companies, I see project planners buckle under pressure all the time – usually because the right support systems and resources are not put into place. It takes more than a good plan to pull together an effective and stress-free construction project. Finding the right service providers, laborers, and plan developers is just as important. This blog was designed to provide those in the construction world with tips and tricks for getting a job done in a straight forward and profitable manner. From project supply ideas to support service options, hopefully you can find some answers to your pressing questions here.
