Alloy Steel vs. Stainless Steel - What are the Differences in These Materials?
At a glance, alloy steel and stainless steel might look similar. But these are different steel materials that have different qualities and properties. So, what are the differences between alloy steel and stainless steel? In this guide, we will talk about the alloy steel vs. stainless steel, which are the materials often used in various rapid manufacturing processes.
Alloy Steel vs. Stainless Steel: What is Alloy Steel?
Alloy steel is a type of steel material that has been alloyed with various other materials. The alloyed part of the steel can amount between 1% to 50% of the total steel weight. The most common alloy materials that can be added to the steel material include nickel, manganese, zinc, titanium, and lead.
Compared to regular or non-alloyed steel material, alloy steel has various enhanced properties, which include improved strength, improved hardness, improved durability, and easier machinability.
Alloy Steel vs. Stainless Steel: What is Stainless Steel?
Stainless steel is the iron alloy that has been made to resist corrosion. The elements added to create stainless steel from iron alloy include chromium, carbon, nickel, silicon, and more.
The primary element that makes stainless steel resistant to corrosion and rusting is chromium. So, the more chromium the stainless steel material has, the better it will be at preventing rusting and corrosion.
Alloy Steel vs. Stainless Steel: Benefits of Alloy Steel in Industrial Applications
Alloy steel can offer plenty of benefits in a wide range of industrial applications. In many cases, alloy steel is better than regular steel. Also, it can be a cheaper alternative to stainless steel. Here are the benefits of alloy steel in industrial applications:
●Better hardness, strength, and durability.
When compared to regular steel, alloy steel offers better hardness, strength, and durability because of the fact that it has been “modified” with various other elements that make it superior to the regular steel. Alloy steel is also harder than carbon steel. So, if you are looking for workpiece material that is strong, hard, and durable, this is the right material for you to use.
●Better heat and corrosion resistance.
Regular steel can get corroded when exposed to various environmental conditions, whereas alloy steel will have a better corrosion resistance than regular steel, which have the properties similar to anodized aluminum(What is Anodized Aluminum) . It will also have better heat resistance, meaning that you can use alloy steel in areas where it will get exposed to constant heat or high temperature.
●Lower material cost compared to stainless steel.
When compared to the cost of stainless steel, with the similar benefits that it offers, alloy steel can offer lower material cost if you want to reduce your production cost a bit. However, stainless steel with lower grades can still be cheaper than alloy steel.
●Better for welding and machining processes.
Alloy steel is also a better steel material you can use for welding and machining(CNC turning and CNC Milling) processes, as it will give you easier welding and machining processes compared to regular steel. It means you can cut the alloy steel or apply any welding technique to it more easily during CNC prototyping and other sheet metal fabrication processes.
●Better durability for the final products.
With the increased strength, durability, and machinability of alloy steel, you will get better durability for the final products. No matter what products you are building, whether they are automotive components, construction frames, engine parts, or any other products, alloy steel can provide your products with the strength and durability they need for long-term use.
Alloy Steel vs. Stainless Steel: Benefits of Stainless Steel in Industrial Applications
For industrial applications, stainless steel has been one of the most preferred metal materials to use whenever manufacturers need to build hardware products with corrosion-resistance properties. Stainless steel also has plenty of benefits when compared to regular steel or alloy steel. Here are the benefits of stainless steel in industrial applications:
●Better aesthetics.
Stainless steel has a decorative quality that makes it suitable for you to put it outdoors. The surface finishes of stainless steel are very clean and shiny, making any hardware products that use this material look their best.
●Corrosion, heat, and impact resistance.
Stainless steel is also known for its superior corrosion, heat, and impact resistance. So, when you use this material, you don’t need to worry that your parts will get rusty or that it will get damaged because of constant heat exposure. It can also withstand physical impact very well.
●Best for long-term outdoor use.
Aside from having a decorative quality, stainless steel material is also an excellent material you can use for long-term outdoor use. This is the reason many public constructions are using stainless steel material as their primary metal material, as they can last for a long time and are also aesthetically pleasing to look at.
●Clean surface finishing.
Stainless steel materials also have a clean surface finishing, making it look shiny and clean all the time. You can also clean the surface of stainless steel material very easily using the regular cleaning products.
●Suitable to use in various environmental conditions.
You can place hardware products made by stainless steel in almost any environmental condition. With its aesthetics, corrosion resistance, and heat resistance qualities, stainless steel is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, and you can rely on their durability for the long-term.
Key Differences of Alloy Steel vs. Stainless Steel:
Alloy steel and stainless steel might have similar looks and properties, but these are two different metal materials you can use in various industrial applications. Here are some key differences between alloy steel and stainless steel:
●Stainless steel contains chromium, whereas alloy steel doesn’t contain chromium.
●The dominant quality of stainless steel is corrosion resistance, whereas alloy steel has a dominant quality of improved hardness and durability.
●Stainless steel has various grades to determine its quality and price.
●Stainless steel offers better aesthetics than alloy steel, making it more suitable to use outdoors.
●The corrosion-resistance of stainless steel makes it capable of withstanding various environmental and weather conditions.
●Alloy steel is more durable than stainless steel, and it is also easier to machine and weld.
Conclusion of Alloy Steel vs. Stainless Steel
Both alloy steel and stainless steel have various applications in a wide range of industries, and each has qualities that might be better than the other. For instance, alloy steel has strength and durability as its dominant qualities, whereas stainless steel has anti-corrosion properties as its dominant qualities. You can use both alloy steel and stainless steel materials in your manufacturing production, depending on the project requirements and the product quality you would like to achieve.
Besides from alloy steel and stainless steel, TEAM Rapid also offers the other materials such as aluminum, plastics etc for CNC machining, 3d print services, die casting services, injection molding services to meet your needs. Contact our team today to request a free quote now!
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