What is Stainless Steel?
Stainless Steel is a type of steel made from a combination of Iron and other metals, to create a steel that has a surface that is resistant to corrosion. This makes it suitable for applications that will expose it to moisture. This surface layer is made from chromium dioxide and forms naturally in contact with the air. Therefore when the surface is cleaned, scratched or damaged, this protective layer is immediately re-created in a kind of self-healing process.
What is 304 Grade?
Type 304 stainless is commonly used for cookware, kitchen equipment and industrial use such as breweries and food production. It is also known as 18/8 which comes from the nominal composition of type 304 being 18% chromium and 8% nickel.
What are the benefits?
It has excellent corrosion resistance in domestic environments and when in contact with household detergents and it has excellent tolerance to heat - it is suitable for use up to 925°C, with it melting at 1450°C!
It is fantastically cleanable which is why it is found in laboratories and health environments. The reason for this is that it has a very smooth surface with few pores or cracks compared to plastic or wood for example, more like a sheet of glass. This means there are fewer places for bacteria and viruses to reside, making it especially easy to wipe or wash them away.
It is also very tough, resisting impacts well and making it very hard to crack or puncture, giving a long-lasting product that will serve you for many years and for a multitude of uses.
Stainless steel is 100% recyclable. In fact, 50% of new stainless steel comes from re-melted stainless steel scrap, thereby completing the full life cycle.
While stainless steel is initially more expensive than plastic, the long life and the complete recyclability mean that when the total life cycle costs are considered, stainless is often the least expensive option.
And lastly, in our opinion, the way the material wears and tears and cleans makes stainless steel products appearance improve with age.