Metal is a very commonly used material today. It’s hard to imagine a time where wood and stone were more popular.
A part of this has to do with growing technology, making it easy to not just find metal, but shape and mix it to our leisure. Thanks to these advances we’re able to enjoy some of the greatest feats of human ingenuity. Sturdy automobiles that can drive at incredible speeds, finely crafted tools that hold up to high temperatures…even the keys you use to get in and out of your home. Metal is something many can’t imagine living without. When you work in the business of ordering or manufacturing metal, these are facts you should regularly get back in touch with.
From thin aluminum strips to copper brass, we’re going to take a look at the unique properties of each metal.
The Durability Of Stainless Steel
Perhaps the most commonly used metal today is stainless steel. Dubbed such because of its anti-rust properties, this is a vital element in many of the everyday products you use. Stainless steel is used in (but not limited to) shipping crate containers, cutlery, silverware, construction materials, and auto manufacturing. Stainless steel comes in several different grades depending on its most common usage — terms you’ll become familiar with include hardness, purity, and melting point. The only metal used more than stainless steel would have to be…
The Versatility Of Silver
Commonly associated with prestige and dignity, silver is well-known in the West. Despite its popularity, however, many often confuse silver to be delegated to jewelry and fine art. Silver is a highly flexible metal that has seen usage in not just beautiful silverware, but coins and various forms of technology. Silver boasts an impressive melting point of 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit, with more pure forms of metal melting faster than mixed forms. Silver, just like gold, is very soft and needs to be handled carefully so it’s not accidentally left misshapen.
The Polished Sheen Of Brass
You have the economical stainless steel and the deceptive silver. What other kinds of thin metal strips will you encounter in your line of work? Brass and copper are very commonly found in manufacturing fields and have held firm over many centuries for their durability. Brass has a lower melting point than many of the metals you’ll encounter in your field, but that doesn’t make it any less useful. When combined with different elements like zinc and copper you can find some fascinating results.
The Benefits Of Combining Metals
Purity is one element that you’ll have to be very aware of in thin metal strips, as it affects the melting point of metals and can compromise your end result. A common combination found today is stainless steel and silver, though you can also find brass and copper in several mundane uses. To alloy a metal is to give manufacturers an easier time fusing them in the assembly line. Corrosion resistance is another term you should know, a trait that allows metals to hold up to pressure, environmental issues, and time itself.
Important Elements To Keep Track Of With Metal Working
Thin metal strips or combined metals, appreciating the unique qualities that go into each material is essential to getting the most out of your business. There’s no one-size-fits-all in the metal world (though stainless steel comes close) and you’re better off consulting experts to see what you’re missing out on. The future of American metalworking is getting ever closer. You have a growing population ever in need of more advanced technology, right alongside certain materials that aren’t as easy to come by (such as wood and oil). Metal, it seems, is sturdy in more than one way.
Find the best thin metal strips. Make sure you’re committing not just to quality, but variety.