Stainless Steel Distributor & Suppliers in California

Stainless steel comes in a variety of formulations, so the exact kind of steel alloy will make a difference. For example, comparing a 304 grade to a 316 grade will give an ultimate tensile strength of 73,200 psi versus 84,100 psi, the same densities, a shear modulus of 12,500 ksi versus 11,893 ksi, and a melting point between 2,550 and 2,650 F versus 2,500 to 2,550 F. These subtle differences can have large impacts in the highly regulated field of aviation and manufacturing. However, compare these statistics to that of aluminum: ultimate tensile strength of 45,000 psi, just over a quarter of the density, just over a quarter of the shear modulus, and a melting point of half that found in both the 304 and 316 grades. While these alloys may be heavier than the aluminum, their high strength property and effectiveness against high temperatures are a major bonus for the aerospace design industry.

This product is actually an iron alloy that contains additives like carbon, chromium, manganese, nickel, nitrogen, and silicon. Due to the chromium content, stainless steel has a resistance to the formation of ferric oxide. The film it forms protects it from corrosion and even lends it to a process of self-healing when exposed to oxygen. The nitrogen content also assists in preventing pitting. To eventually come up with this alloy, it took many years of discoveries which eventually coalesced into the modern day product. One of the first discoveries was that of the potential chromium could have in its special properties which were first noticed in 1798. The 1800s saw various further observations in cutlery that was not rusting as other metals would. The chromium steel soon became useful in the production of cannons before the Civil War. By the early 1900s, a "non-rusting steel" had hit the advertisements. Like many metallic products, it was during the 1950s and 1960s that great advances in technology enabled the mass production of this valuable alloy.

Since stainless began being mass-produced for construction and large applications, there have been other purposes discovered. For example, wiring has been drawn out of stainless products for countless applications. One less obvious application might be the use of stainless wiring in clothing either for supporting elements of clothes or for decorative elements which aren't always in a wired form. This product is considered one of the four major classes of metal, the other three being magnetic alloys, structural steels, and tool and die steels. Stainless is not just an ideal product for its versatility in construction and its ductile properties that are useful in appliances, but it is also highly desired as it is recyclable.

Various Steel Series

Since stainless began being mass-produced for construction and large applications, there have been other purposes discovered. For example, wiring has been drawn out of stainless products for countless applications. One less obvious application might be the use of stainless wiring in clothing either for supporting elements of clothes or for decorative elements which aren't always in a wired form. This product is considered one of the four major classes of metal, the other three being magnetic alloys, structural steels, and tool and die steels. Stainless is not just an ideal product for its versatility in construction and its ductile properties that are useful in appliances, but it is also highly desired as it is recyclable.

At Alloy Metals Co., we sell a variety of excellent quality products that can be used in the production of a wide range of parts in a plane according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). These aircraft parts include structural components as well as machined parts, springs, tie rods, castings, and control cables. The kinds available at Alloy Metals Co. fall between the AMS specification numbers of 5528 to 5682. For this metal in particular, we offer SS bar, SS sheet, and SS plate forms.