5 Fun (& Interesting) Facts About Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is one of the most popular metals in the world. It’s easy to see why since the applications are vast & endless. With that said, there are many hidden stainless steel facts & trivia out there. What better way to better familiarize yourself with this unique metal? IMC works with stainless steel daily, so we’re here to share with you the most important tidbits about the material. Let’s break it down.
In this article, we will give you 5 fun (& interesting) facts about stainless steel to give you a better idea about the metal. We’ll also give you IMC’s brief history with stainless steel to round things out.
1. It’s Actually Called “Inox”
Believe it or not, the official name for stainless steel is “inox” (short for inoxydable) – which stems from a French term translating to “unrustable" or "non-oxidizing.” In fact, the term inox is still widely used across the world today in French-speaking & European regions. Inox is the specific term to describe a metal that is resistant to rust & containing 10.5% chromium – which are the signature features of stainless steel.
It was actually Ernest Stuart that coined the term “stainless steel” shortly after its invention in the early 1900’s. The term “stainless steel” has been the common name ever since & remains the most trendy way of describing the metal in English speaking countries.
2. It’s a Useful Deodorizer (& Soap!)
Stainless steel is one of the few metals that does NOT retain odors. This is useful when using cutlery or other tools on food products that emit a strong smell (such as fish or onions). The odor compounds are bound to the metal & not your skin. That’s chemistry!
Taking this a step further, stainless steel can be used as a hand soap in a pinch! However, this type of soap does not kill bacteria or remove grease. Here’s an in-depth video demonstrating stainless steel as a hand soap.
3. It Can Be Worn as a Fabric!
Move over Met Gala – stainless steel is in vogue. Although stainless steel jewelry is common, have you heard of stainless steel clothing?
This is done by drawing stainless steel into very thin wires & then weaving it into fabric to provide an anti-static property to clothing. Stainless steel is vital in EMI/RFI shielding & blocking radiation as well. Lastly, stainless steel is great for heat-resistant garments such as fire blankets.
Apart from fabrics, stainless steel is essential for the sensors in wearable tech that detect body temperature & heart rate.
Here’s an interesting video about stainless steel woven into clothing to function as a conductive thread.
4. It is 100% Recyclable
Yes, stainless steel is ecofriendly! Steel is the world’s most recycled material, with more steel recycled annually than aluminum, glass & paper combined. During production, stainless steel uses scrap metal as its primary raw material, with up to 70% of the product coming from recycled material.
With that said, stainless steel is 100% recyclable with no loss in value & can be recycled at dedicated reclamation sites. Even if stainless steel is not recycled & it does find its way to a landfill or disposal site, it will have no harmful effect to the soil or groundwater.
5. Over 100 Grades Exist
Stainless steel is broken down into many distinct categories based on composition. For the foodservice industry, the alloy Type 300 is the main player. This is further broken down into grades such as Type 303 or 302 – Type 304 & 316 is the preferred choice of IMC/Teddy due to its balance of strength, corrosion resistance & versatility.
It would take days to break down every single grade of stainless steel, but there are primarily over 100 known grades of stainless steel that exist today & many advanced duplex grades are still in development.
IMC has been working with stainless steel for almost 70 years & we are familiar with the ins & outs. While the metal has remained the same over the years, our final products have taken on shapes that make the very most out of the material. For a closer look at IMC’s products, click here.
