Steel is a truly remarkable material – more elastic than rubber and 1,000 stronger than iron. Due to its resilience and reuse potential, it is easy to see why steel is so widely used across so many different industries and sectors. Steel is also one of the world’s most recycled materials, making it an exceptional choice for eco-friendly purposes. Let’s take a look at the various everyday uses of this incredible alloy.
Kitchen Utensils
Although all steel is iron-based, stainless steel contains around 18% chromium, making it resistant to corrosion, which is vital for kitchen-based hygiene. Food-grade stainless steel is widely used in domestic and commercial kitchens alike for surfaces, cookware and utensils. Stainless steel is fire-resistant and able to withstand high temperatures, making it an excellent choice of material for culinary purposes.
Tools
Tool steels are high-quality carbon and alloy steels divided into six groups: water-hardening, cold-work, shock-resisting, high-speed, hot-work, and special purpose. These incredibly strong, durable steels are renowned for their impact and heat resistance due to various amounts of tungsten, molybdenum, cobalt and vanadium. This makes tool steel ideal for cutters, reamers and drill bits.
Household Appliances
You will find this versatile material in almost every room of your home. Due to its exceptional level of damage resistance, steel is an ideal choice for household appliances, such as refrigerators, sinks and stoves. This is why so many so-called “junk” appliances fetch attractive prices for scrap. Everything from wires and casings to surfaces can be easily reused and recycled.
Car Parts
Everyday vehicles feature a myriad of steel-based components – from door panels to exhaust pipes to suspension systems. That said, the most predominant use of steel in the automotive industry is the manufacture of car frames due to its immense strength and lightweight characteristics. Furthermore, steel is an affordable material, keeping manufacturing and sale costs as low as possible.
Screws and Hinges
The tensile strength and durability of carbon steel makes it an excellent choice for screws and hinges. It is also favoured in the construction and DIY industries for being cost-effective, plentiful and easy to work with. Stainless steel is also widely used for screws and hinges as it does not tarnish and rust, although due to this corrosion resistance, it is considerably more pricey.
Structures
Many large structures, such as warehouses, storage facilities and residential buildings, are made using steel frames. Both domestic and commercial steel-framed structures are, therefore, highly weather-resistant and long-lasting. Due to the demand for faster build times, steel framed buildings in the UK seem to be constructed in the blink of an eye. Rapid construction is only achievable due to the adaptability and affordability of steel.
Renewable Energy Resources
One of the main benefits of steel is its eco-friendly nature. Reusable and recyclable, steel theoretically can be repurposed an infinite amount of times. No surprise, then, that it is used as a component in renewable energy resources. Wind turbines are made predominantly from steel. It is also used as a base for solar thermal panels, as well as in pumps, tanks and heat exchangers.
Medical Equipment
It is vital that all medical equipment has high resistance to heat and corrosion. Hardened-tempered stainless steel makes for exceptionally durable and cleanable medical tools such as forceps, hypodermic needles and scalpels. Implant-grade stainless steel is also used for non-permanent implant devices such as guidewires, catheters, and endovascular grafts.
Jewellery
Stainless steel is an excellent metal for jewellery making due to the fact that it is heat malleable and can be engraved. Stainless steel, as mentioned previously, is resistant to rust and corrosion – necklaces, bracelets and rings made from this material – most commonly grade 304 – are remarkably long-lasting and damage-resistant. It also rarely causes skin irritation, making it safe for daily wear.
Water Pipes
Steel is commonly used in the water industry – namely, 304 and 316 stainless steel. Steel pipes are durable, long-lasting and resistant to corrosion and rust, which is a tremendously important factor for safe drinking water and the transportation of wastewater and sewage. Water pipe repairs can be complicated, so steel’s long lifespan and resistance to damage contribute to the minimal need for maintenance work.
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