What Do You Need to Know About Stainless Steel Sheet?

Sheet metal is a very versatile material, it is easily cut, bent and welded to make all sorts of components, from small bracketry, to the chassis and panels of consumer goods. Stainless Steel sheet metal is even more versatile still, with the ability to resist corrosion and give a more professional appearance with its various finishes.

In this article we’ll look at the various uses of stainless steel sheet metal, and what makes it so popular in the industrial space.

What is Stainless Steel Sheet Metal Used For?

The applications of stainless steel sheet metal are extremely varied, as its suitability and ease of manufacture lend it to a wide range of industries:

• Consumer goods enclosures – Appliances like high end microwaves, ovens and dishwashers often use stainless steel sheets for their inner and outer surfaces
• Electrical cabinets – where a cabinet needs to give prolonged protection from the elements, stainless steel is preferred
• Food industry – Process equipment such as slicers, fryers, conveyor belts and more often use stainless steel as hygiene is of vital importance
• Medical devices – For the same reasons as the food industry, medical appliances such as cabinets, carts, trays and machine enclosures are often made of stainless steel

Advantages of Stainless Steel Sheet Metal

• Corrosion resistance – this is the foremost benefit of stainless steel, it does not need painting or plating to be protected from corrosion, this reduces maintenance and cleaning costs
• Range of finishes – mild steel cannot be polished in the same way stainless steel can; a brushed or mirrored finish is relatively easy to achieve with the correct processing
• Ease of manufacture – stainless steel is easily laser cut, welded, sawn, bent and drilled, making manufacture cost effective

Disadvantages of Stainless Steel Sheet Metal

• Cost – Stainless is typically around 2 times more expensive than mild steel
• Weight – whilst only slightly heavier than mild steel, stainless steel is much heavier than aluminum or plastic, which can often be a consideration in enclosure or cabinet manufacture.
• Contamination – whilst stainless steel does not corrode, contaminating it with any mild steel can cause it to be on the surface, this can be from welding or grinding sparks, or even scratching with steel tools or equipment

How is Stainless Steel Sheet Metal Made?

Stainless steel sheet goes through the typical process used in any stainless steel manufacturing, with the addition of more rolling steps to produce the thickness required, the basic process is thus:

• Melting – raw materials melted together
• Removal of carbon – decarburization removes excess carbon
• Tuning – to achieve the exact composition, the molten metal is sampled and tweaked with the addition of appropriate alloying elements
• Forming – the molten steel is cast into a long billet and then rolled into flat sheets
• Rolling – final product thickness is achieved using a series of rolling processes

For more information on the process of stainless steel manufacture check out our blog post here.

What are the Specifications of Stainless Steel Sheet Metal?

When purchasing stainless steel sheet metal, there are a few things to consider:

• Grade – this is the composition of the metal, the most common grades are 304, 316, 321 and 430
• Thickness – Stainless steel sheet is available in thicknesses ranging from 0.5mm to 6mm
• Sheet Size – there are a few standard sheet sizes, use these to determine your part size where possible, to avoid wastage, or have your sheets cut to size
• Finish – stainless steel can come in various finishes, from matte to bright polished, we discuss these in more detail later
• Plastic coating – many suppliers offer plastic coating on one, both or none of the faces, to protect the finish

What Kind of Finishes Can You Get In Stainless Steel Sheet Metal?

Whilst mild steel is generally only available in two finishes, which are dependent on the processing, stainless steel can be polished to various levels of luster before being shipped.

• Matt finish – often referred to as “2B” or “Mill” finish, this is un-polished
• Dull polished – also known as a brushed finish, this is often used for aesthetics on product enclosures
• Semi-bright polish – the stage between dull and bright polished offers better cleanability without the expense of bright polishing
• Bright polish – bright or mirror polishing is used for both aesthetics and when producing hygienic vessels as required by the food industry

Stainless Steel Sheet Metal Grades

Like any material there are different grades suited to different tasks and environments, these are the most common grades of stainless steel sheet:

• 304 – Typically used in the dairy, beverage and food industries, it is very resistant to acids and other chemicals.
• 316 – Containing slightly less chromium but more nickel, 316 stainless steel has a higher corrosion resistance
• 321 – Commonly used in the oil and gas industry, 321 is similar to 304, with the addition of titanium used as a stabilizer
• 430 – Often used as a cheaper alternative to 304 or 316, 430 grade stainless steel is ferritic, unlike most grades. It still has very good corrosion resistance

Stainless Steel Sheet Metal Alternatives

If stainless steel is not applicable to your project, consider these alternatives:

• Aluminum – as another non-ferrous alloy with good corrosion resistance, aluminum can be used in certain circumstances. It is considerably lighter but not as strong as stainless steel
• Plated Steel – steel sheet metal is also supplied as galvanized sheet, using a pre-galvanizing process. This provides good resistance to corrosion, although edge protection is lost when cutting
• Plastic – In some cases, high performance plastics can replace stainless steel, items such as electrical enclosures can be made with as much weather resistance and sealing as stainless steel.

Get Your Stainless Steel Sheet from Metals Supermarkets

If you are in need of a reliable cost-effective supply of stainless steel sheets, Metals Supermarkets offer all common grades, with a cut-to-size service offered nationwide. Find your nearest store.