Medical research conducted over the past decades has revealed numerous connections between substances of varying composition and biochemical processes occurring in the human body. It has been discovered that many acute and chronic diseases are caused by certain chemical compounds capable of triggering mechanisms that disrupt the normal energy balance in living cells, as well as influencing the information stored in DNA and RNA molecules about the functioning algorithms of individual organs and systems.
A number of microorganisms with similar abilities have also been discovered, necessitating a radical revision of approaches to assessing the safety of food products and the equipment used to produce them. For this reason, many of the requirements contained in standards for the composition of raw materials, as well as materials used to manufacture equipment components, have become significantly more stringent. Consequently, the demand for stainless steel sheet, currently recognized as absolutely harmless to human health and approved by sanitary-epidemiological and other control services for use in the food industry.
For this branch of economic activity, the following qualities are of greatest importance:
- When melting the feedstock for its production, a fairly large amount of chromium is added as an alloying additive. This creates a very thin, tightly adherent layer of chromium oxide on the surface of the metal, which does not react with the vast majority of chemically active substances. Thus, both the protective film and the wall bearing the main mechanical loads are reliably protected from damage, and they prevent the release of any harmful impurities that could contaminate the final product.
- Nickel, also present in significant quantities in the alloy, significantly increases heat resistance, which in turn significantly expands the permissible operating temperature range. Products become capable of effectively resisting thermal effects, allowing them to maintain their original geometric shape even at high temperatures, without the formation of loose, flaky scale on the surface.
- In the food industry, maintaining impeccable cleanliness in the premises is crucial to prevent the spread of pathogenic microorganisms. The completely smooth surface of stainless steel sheets allows for easy cleaning of both the interior and exterior walls of tanks of residues of liquids stored and processed within them, thereby preventing the persistent growth of contaminant stains, both in thickness and area.
It has similar chemical properties copper sheet However, its cost is significantly higher and its resistance to mechanical stress is lower. For this reason, it has been almost completely phased out from the food industry and is used there only for repairing older equipment. However, it remains in high demand in electrical engineering due to copper's exceptionally high electrical conductivity.
Stainless steel sheet and its analogues for the creation of metal structures
Polished stainless steel sheets, especially those tinted yellow to resemble gold, boast excellent reflective properties, making them widely used in religious and monumental structures. They are often used to construct church domes, steles, monuments, and other structures visible during the day due to reflected sunlight from distances of tens of kilometers. For more mundane applications, it's advisable to use cheaper alternatives.
Stainless steel sheet
For cladding metal warehouses, hangars, workshops, agricultural buildings, inexpensive and highly durable materials are most often used steel sheet Unlike stainless steel, it is much easier to cut, drill, and arc weld, so installation work requires much less effort and is completed at a faster pace.
Aluminum sheet
In areas where the mass of the resulting products is important, for example in the aircraft and rocket and space industries, it is in demand as a source material aluminum sheet The metal's low density significantly reduces fuel consumption per flight, making aircraft more maneuverable and controllable. Its high ductility allows it to be stamped easily, allowing for the production of a large number of parts with significant variations in relief depth.