Is Stainless Steel a Sustainable Material?
When most people hear the words stainless or stainless steel, they immediately think of the refrigerator or kitchen item they were just looking at in their home. However, stainless steel is utilized for a very specific set of purposes in countless applications in industries ranging from manufacturing to medical. Everything you see around you is made up of some or other material. Today, in this article, we will try to understand how sustainable stainless steel materials are. There are an end number of chores where stainless steel is being used, be it in food-processing, catering, household and medical applications, and the list goes on. So what are the reasons that stainless steel is preferred delicately for so many streams of businesses? Let us dive into it and find out the reasons why this sustainable material is preferred so widely over any other.
First, let us understand the nature and properties of stainless steel material
1. Rust-proof sustainable stainless steel
The first thing that comes into our mind when we think of metal will be iron. But to your surprise, stainless steel is a durable material for the reason that it is rust-proof. Metals are resistant to rust and corrosion because of chromium. 10.5% of this metal can be found in stainless steel, which is sufficient to stop rust. Chromium forms a barrier that shields stainless steel from rust and corrosion when it comes into contact with oxygen. Now, stainless steel is less prone to rusting the higher its chromium content. There are more than 150 distinct types of stainless steel in use nowadays, so yours might be more susceptible to rusting than certain others, but this depends on how much chromium it contains. But if you don't care for the material, eventually it will rust.
2. Environmental Effects
As we all know, every metal is a product of nature, Stainless steel is the combination of multiple metals. A material known as an alloy, stainless steel, is created from a mix of metals. Stainless steel is produced in a two-step process primarily from iron and carbon footprint, like all other types of steel. The addition of chromium and other alloying components like nickel to stainless steel to produce a corrosion-resistant product makes it unique. As a matter of fact, we cannot just justify on the basis of these that it is an environmentally friendly material. For this reason, in the process of making this material, all these metals are melted on a very high heat energy. Moreover, the final stage would be the deposit method. One impressive quality of stainless steel is that it can be recycled numerous times without losing any of its worth or applications.
3. Life Cycle Assessment
It is one of the few materials that can be continually recycled and is sustainable into something else with equal value. Everything that's come from nature has an expiry date. Even though metals are hard to decompose, it's certainly not an impossible task. Sometimes evaluating whether a material is biodegradable depends on how long the disintegration process takes, this can take decades or even centuries.
As a result, stainless steel has some metallic components that are suitable for the soil. This durable material will ideally decompose as a result of severe weather and the passage of time. However, when it finally decomposes, it leaves behind minute metallic particles that are safe for the environment.
4. Stainless steel and economy
Apart from all the factors that make it a sustainable material. Be it construction, Furniture, or Toys, this material has taken over all the markets. Not only is it economical, but It is also environmentally friendly. Metals like stainless steel are a boon to the circular economy. Because it is made of recycled materials and is 100% recyclable without sacrificing quality, stainless steel is a material that is highly sustainable. From the perspective of the life cycle, durability is equally considered.
If the right stainless steel is chosen and kept correctly, it will last the duration of the project. As it comes with an end number of uses, it also comes with a range to choose from.
Conclusion
This material is not only economically sustainable but also environmentally friendly. Santosh Steels & Pipes Pvt. Ltd. offers Stainless Steel is a rust-proof material that multiplies its durability. This factor also limits the new manufacturing, hence suitable for our environment. Not only cost-effective and durable, this material is also esthetically pleasant. Thus, it is also widely used in house and kitchen appliances, utensils, and home decor to alleviate the look of our space.