See all Blog Posts What Exactly is Stainless Steel? Category: Stainless Steel Posted: July 21, 2014 Stainless Steel Stainless Steel is an ideal material for many applications because of its unique properties. The primary benefit of Stainless Steel is that it does not corrode or rust as easily as ordinary steel. Because of this unique property, it is widely used across many industries, including architecture, automotive and others. What is Stainless Steel? Stainless steel is an iron alloy that has a minimum Chromium content of 10.5 per cent. The Chromium content produces a thin chromium oxide film on the steel’s surface called a passivation layer. This layer prevents corrosion from occurring on the steel surface; the greater the amount of Chromium in the steel, the greater the corrosion resistance. Stainless steel also contains varied amounts of other elements such as Carbon, Silicon and Manganese. Other elements can be added to increase corrosion resistance (Nickel) and formability (Molybdenum). Formability is the ability to change the form/shape of a metal product without causing permanent damage to it. Looking for Stainless Steel? Metal Supermarkets carries dozens of stainless steel shapes and grades in stock. Metal Supermarkets Metal Supermarkets is the world’s largest small-quantity metal supplier with over 125 brick-and-mortar stores across the US, Canada, and United Kingdom. We are metal experts and have been providing quality customer service and products since 1985. At Metal Supermarkets, we supply a wide range of metals for a variety of applications. Our stock includes: mild steel, stainless steel, aluminum, tool steel, alloy steel, brass, bronze and copper. We stock a wide range of shapes including: bars, tubes, sheets, plates and more. And we can cut metal to your exact specifications. Visit one of our 125+ locations across North America today. Share: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn E-Mail Tags: stainless steel Related blog articles Mobile Businesses Welcome New Quick and Easy Access to Small-quantity Metals What Do You Need to Know About Stainless Steel Sheet? Can Stainless Steel Be Used for Piping?