The history of stainless steel and its significance in the world

Unlike iron, which has been in use for over a thousand years, stainless steel is a relative newcomer to the materials science world, having first been produced only just over 100 years ago.  This may seem hard to believe, given the fact that this metal is present in almost every facet of modern life, but this is simply a testament to what an important breakthrough stainless steel was.  The metal has revolutionized the modern world and has found applications in almost every manufacturing sector, from healthcare and catering equipment, to the automotive and construction industries.  Furthermore, it has out-performed more traditional competing materials such as copper, aluminum and carbon steel.

The secret to the success of stainless steel likes in its incredible physical and chemical properties.  Stainless steel has high corrosion resistance, heat resistance, formability, durability, and does not rust.  On top of this, the metal does not readily react to many substances and is inexpensive compared to specialist, non-corrosive alloys.

In 1913, Harry Brearley of Sheffield, UK discovered “rustless” steel.  Although there had been many prior attempts, Brearley has been credited with inventing the first true stainless steel, which had a 12.8% chromium content.  He had added chromium to molten iron to produce a metal that did not rust.    Brearley stumbled upon this discovery while trying to solve the problem of erosion of the internal surfaces of gun barrels for the British army during the onset of the First World War.

After the initial discovery, further improvements to stainless steel occurred at a fairly rapid pace.  In 1919, Elwood Haynes obtained a patent on martensitic stainless steel, in 1929 William J. Kroll of Luxembourg was the first to discover precipitation-hardening stainless steel, and in 1930 duplex stainless steel was first produced in Sweden at the Avesta Ironworks.

Today, China is the largest producer of stainless steel in the world.  One of the leading stainless steel producers and distributors is Outokumpu, a group of companies headquartered in Espoo, Finland.

Stainless steel has found a myriad of applications from the tiniest structural parts in artificial heart valves to the largest architectural structures.  Several world-famous monuments have been constructed using stainless steel.  With the growing awareness about the importance of reducing carbon emissions, many countries are keen on promoting stainless steel which is resistant to corrosion and has a prolonged service life, therefore not requiring frequent replacements and repairs.  It just requires good maintenance like cleaning and polishing.

Additionally, stainless steel is 100% recyclable and does not degrade when reprocessed which allows for multiple life cycles.  The sustainability of stainless steel is unmatched compared to other metals.  Stainless steel is a material that is very likely to extend its use well into the next century and beyond.

To keep stainless steel clean and shiny, you need to use a good cleaner.  That cleaner is Sheila Shine.  Sheila Shine cleans, protects, and polishes all of your stainless steel and is great for commercial and residential use.

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