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Can stainless steel be a cost-effective alternative to nickel alloys?

The coronavirus pandemic has led to a greater than ever emphasis on hygiene that creates new challenges for commercial kitchens. The kitchens need to maintain high levels of productivity while ensuring safe working and carrying out frequent deep cleaning operations. Stainless steel can handle everything from wet conditions to flames and freezing temperatures. It also meets strict hygiene standards and expectations for durability and long life. In addition, here are the six things you might not realize.

Price used to be the most important factor when choosing between different suppliers – but times are changing. With world leaders signing up to climate targets, stainless steel products now need to come with a clean bill of health when it comes to sustainability. In this guidebook we discuss five principles that help you compare stainless steel providers on equal terms. Download the guide to learn more – and ensure you are doing your part for sustainability.

Duplex stainless steels have a ferritic-austenitic microstructure, with a phase balance of approximately 50% ferrite and 50% austenite. They are magnetic due to their ferrite content. Duplex steels combine many of the beneficial properties of ferritic and austenitic stainless steels. Compared with austenitic grades, these steels typically have high chromium content but rather low nickel content. Molybdenum and nitrogen are added to improve corrosion resistance and balance the microstructure. Nitrogen also increases the mechanical strength.

Machining of stainless steel is essential to create high-performance components and products with the right dimensions. All successful machining operations depend on careful control of cutting speeds and feeds, tool hardness, cooling and chip control. This is all the more important for stainless steel as different grades have their own physical and thermal properties that can influence the success of the project.

Bus designers are facing new challenges in terms of energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness and sustainability. Stainless steel offers exciting possibilities – see what makes it an attractive alternative to carbon steel for future mobility.