The construction of buildings is one of those innovations that has been a major part of human society ever since its inception. Buildings were needed to protect people from harsh weather conditions. Circular rings of stones, animal skins, wooden poles, etc were all used to create shelters that will be conducive for the early men. 

Over time, bricks and blocks, concrete amongst others were used to construct buildings. Now, the world has evolved to a stage where builders, constructors, and manufacturers are looking towards using a more durable, cost-effective, and efficient material in construction. Stainless steel is one of those materials that these innovators are tilting towards.

You must have invariably come across washers, wires, and cables at some point or the other. However, you might be oblivious to what type of steel it is made out from. Stainless Steel 302, otherwise known as AISI 302, is majorly known for its exceptional mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. It also has quite a number of features that will be discussed in the body of this work.

Composition and Classification

There are quite a number of elements that make up the AISI 302 stainless steel. This steel contains some elements that you might be familiar with. Elements like chromium, nickel, and carbon. Since AISI 302 predominantly got its name from chromium and nickel, it is little wonder that these elements constitute 17-19% and 8-13% respectively. The carbon element is about 0.15-0.30%. 

The number of elements makes AISI 302 distinct from other grades of stainless steel. For example, AISI 302’s moldability and smooth fabrication can be credited to the Nickel element. The presence of Chromium also enables it to have corrosion resistance.

It has an unmatched higher protective resistance level and it is famous for its high demand in the market. You should know that the AISI 302 and other austenitic gases cannot be heated because of their upped amounts of Chromium and Nickel. 

Chromium, Nickel, and Carbon are not the only chemical components of AISI 302. AISI 302 also has other elements like Manganese, Silicon, Phosphorous, Nitrogen, and Sulphur.

Properties 

Because of its affiliation to the austenitic family, it is not out of place that AISI 302 shares quite a number of mechanical properties with other members. 302 is sturdy and at the same time malleable. 

For example, its solidity is lower compared to other austenitic steel grades. In view of this, AISI is best suited for applications that require toughness and not just complete strength. Its durableness and roughness make it the best option for your kitchenware, amongst other applications.

Applications of AISI 302 Stainless Steel in Building

Construction Industry

It might interest you to know that the skyscraper known as the Chrysler Building in New York is one of the foremost popular uses of steel in construction. Not just that, AISI 302 was used for its roof cladding. It has been almost a century and the sheet steel has just been cleaned thrice. On these three occasions, the roof clad was said to be in very good condition.

Those in the construction industry know how important it is for a material to be able to stay in shape regardless of the weather condition. Keeping this in mind, it is safe to say that AISI 302 affords these builders and designers the opportunity to use a material that can stand even in the face of critical conditions. 

There will definitely be changes in the weather condition. Therefore, AISI 302 provides steel that is not just beautiful, aesthetically, but also is perfect for an aggressive atmosphere.

AISI 302 can be extended and can bear heavy loads. Because of these, engineers are able to build monumental bridges that will last for many decades. It has a track record that speaks in great volumes about how indispensable it is to construction.

Long ago, it was usually a challenge to build skyscrapers as it took a lot of years to get the work completed. However, in recent years that has changed as China even completed a fifteen-story steel building in 6 days, amongst other milestones. All of these are possible because of steel like AISI 302. These steels are able to stand the test of natural disasters because they are not going to fall but the buildings might get deformed due to the steel’s flexibility.

You should also know that because of its high heat resistance, your steel is safe from rusting. We highly recommend it for your outdoor projects.

Automotive

The Automotive industry is one that needs various elements for automobiles to come out at their best. One of the instruments that are essential is screws. You might have the question of how screws and AISI 302 come to play together. AISI  302 is used for manufacturing self-tapping screws, bolts, rivets, and specialized fasteners.

Steel is a very important material that manufacturers of automobiles cannot do without. Averagely, about 900 kilograms is used in every car. It is used in the car’s chassis and body, roof, body, door panels, etc. AISI 302’s toughness makes it just essential in the manufacturing of automobiles. Its moldability also makes it easier to use in the production of automobiles.

Aerospace 

Although aluminum is the material that manufacturers tend to lean towards when creating aircraft because of its light nature, it should be noted that steel is mostly used these days because of its higher tensile strength and melting point. In past years, aluminum contributed about 70% of most aircraft. You might be interested to know that in recent years it only constitutes about 20% of most aircraft. 

This is attributed to the fact that its place has been taken by other components like stainless steel. This is attributed mainly to the quest for finding materials with higher capabilities and the need for materials with corrosion resistance. The reasons for the use of stainless steel 302, amongst others, are quite a lot.

Advantages of using AISI 302 Stainless Steel in Building 

AISI 302 has distinct features and elements that make it the safer and wiser choice for any builder. All of these features make it an excellent building choice to make.

AISI 302 is of very high quality as its components are ones that show that it is not like any other basic steel. Because most of the AISI 302 used for the building has been prefabricated at the plants, it enables the builders to install it faster than employing the normal building materials.

You would not want a building that is going to give away in months due to a loose and strengthless structure. AISI 302 sheets of steel used for buildings have similar strengths to that of normal building materials like concrete. AISI 302 has refractory agents that guard against the structure being destroyed by parasites, mold, and corrosion.

It should also be noted that in using AISI 302, you would not have to spend as much as you use concrete. Concrete is considerably heavier than steel. As such, it will require more materials to be used when laying its foundation because of its heavy structure. On the other hand, AISI 302 is lighter when compared to concrete. This invariably means that fewer materials will be used while building the foundation.

AISI 302 when used in constructing buildings can withstand a lot of weight and load. It can withhold its strength both at high and low temperatures. This in itself makes it the best choice for construction. Because of this strength, buildings made out of steel can stand immense weight and pressure and also last for a lot of years without weakening.

Aesthetics is very important in buildings. For your buildings to come out more beautiful than conventional buildings, AISI 302 is the best bet. A lot of people that build houses with concrete employ the use of AISI 302 for that extra shiny effect. 

AISI 302 reflects the different beautiful scenery around it and makes the building more aesthetically appealing.

Cost-effectiveness

AISI 302 is one of the less costly steels for construction and manufacturing. This is due to its abundance and low-cost production. AISI 302 is more expensive than traditional steel. This slightly higher cost is because of the presence of chromium which prevents the steel from rusting. We believe that you will find it wiser to purchase AISI 302 steel because of its durability over time, among other features. 

Regular steel is much cheaper than AISI 302 Stainless Steel but the quality is way lower as it does not stand the test of time. Even though they are in the same family, AISI 302 is less expensive than AISI 304. This event shows that although there are quite a number of AISI products to choose from, AISI 302 is one of the less expensive products to choose from.

Conclusion

Ranging from its durability to its cost-effectiveness, AISI stainless steel is best suited for any construction or manufacturing you might want to venture into.

Contact us today to get started on purchasing steel.