Stainless steel is a family of iron-based alloys that contain a minimum of approximately 11% chromium, a composition that prevents the iron from rusting, as well as providing heat-resistant properties.

Different types of stainless steel include the elements carbon ( from 0.03% to greater than 1.00%), nitrogen, aluminium, silicon, sulfur, titanium, nickel, copper, selenium, niobium, and molybdenum.

Specific types of stainless steel are often designated by a three-digit number, e.g., 304 stainless. Stainless steel’s resistance to ferric oxide formation result s from the presence of chromium in the alloy, which forms a passive film that protects the underlying material from corrosion attack, and can self-heal in the presence of oxygen.

The special characteristic of stainless steels is that they have a resistance to corrosion that is significantly higher with respect to other steels; some of them also have an excellent resistance to high temperatures.

These characteristics of stainless steels are obtained thanks to the addition of chromium and other alloy elements, and allow use even in particularly aggressive environments such as chemical plants, marine environments and offshore platforms. These qualities of resistance to assaults makes them perfect materials to be used also in architecture to increase the durability of the objects created.

Stainless steels can be provided in their natural rolling state or annealed, normalized, quenched and tempered, or heat-treated. Bars, coils, and wires are available with a wide variety of packaging.