Use of Stainless Steel in the Mining and Minerals Industry
Stainless steel has been used in the mining industry for many decades as it has a plethora of characteristics that make it perfect for use in mining environments. For example, it is light in weight but also strong and durable; it is resistant to corrosion and doesn’t rust; it is easy to clean; and finally, it is a very sustainable material.
What’s more, stainless steel has the ability to be alloyed with many different elements which means it can take on different properties and thus be even more versatile. This versatility means that it can be used in many different applications.
It is probably unsurprising then that stainless steel has emerged to be the metal-of-choice for so many professionals in the mining industry. This is because of its low cost, high strength, low weight, ability to resist corrosion, durability and sustainability. Interestingly, stainless steel is also known for being very easy to clean due to its smooth surface and is consequently used to store substances as it reduces the risk of contamination. There is a growing demand for duplex steel in this environment as well as it has a higher strength than carbon steel and an extremely high level of corrosion resistance.
