Stainless Steel VS Aluminum
1) Characteristics of stainless steel and aluminum
Contains a minimum of 11% chromium
Is a ferrous alloy (contains iron)
Usually magnetic
High tensile strength
Stainless steel comes in a variety of grades. The grades are classified by a series number and assigned a numerical grade. The numbers classify the grades of steel based on their composition, physical properties, and applications. The most popular grades are 304 stainless steel and 316 stainless steel.
Non-magnetic
Low density
Non-ferrous alloy (doesn’t contain iron)
Due to its low tensile strength, aluminum is commonly alloyed with other metals to give it a number of different superior properties. Some of the most common aluminum alloys are 3003 aluminum and 3004 aluminum.
2) Key differences of stainless steel and aluminum
Stainless steel is heavier and stronger than aluminum. In fact, aluminum is around 1/3 the weight of steel. Even though stainless steel is stronger, aluminum has a much better strength-to-weight ratio than stainless steel.
Steel is a poor conductor of electricity due to its dense protective oxide layer. On the other hand, aluminum is a very good electrical and thermal conductor.
Aluminum is more costly than stainless steel if you look at the price based on weight. But, if you look at price by volume, Aluminum is more cost-effective because you get more product.
When comparing stainless steel vs aluminum, stainless steel has much better resistance to heat with a melting point of 2500 ℉, while aluminum becomes very soft around 400 ℉ with a melting point of 1220 ℉. However, aluminum has the advantage over steel in cold temperatures. As the temperature decreases, the tensile strength of aluminum increases, while steel becomes brittle in low temperatures.
Aluminum does not rust; however, it does corrode when exposed to salt. Stainless steel is highly corrosion-resistant and does not easily rust. In addition, stainless steel is non-porous which gives it more resistance to corrosion.
3) Applications of stainless steel and aluminum
Kitchen sinks
Cutlery
Food prep tables
Forceps
Surgical implants
Scissors
Bridges
Monuments and sculptures
Buildings
Auto bodies
Rail cars
Engines
Automotive
Train rails
Airplanes
Spaceships
Long-distance power lines
Window frames
High-rise buildings
Dishwashers
Washers
Dryers
Refrigerators
