Myths about stainless steel piping products

In more conventional plumbing applications, stainless steel pipe fittings clamps, and other products are gaining popularity. Due to its affordable price, stainless steel is a viable alternative to other products. As a result, Contractors recognize the value of stainless as it is corrosion-resistant and cheaper than other materials such as lead-free brass.

 

The Stainless Steel Products industry is prone to many misconceptions. We must address these issues now because they negatively impact marketplace education. 

 

·         Stainless Steel's magnetic properties determine its quality.

 

It is a highly prevalent misconception. Because austenitic stainless steel plumbing is in their pre-worked state non-magnetic, there is a great deal of confusion on the topic. The stainless steel will become magnetic after being cold worked in the manufacturing process, regardless of its quality and alloy specification. 

 

Despite a widespread myth, the magnetic property of stainless steel doesn't indicate its ability to resist corrosion. It is vital to recognize that lower grade stainless steels, such as the 200 series, will not have the same magnetic attraction as more corrosion-resistant stainless steels, such as the 300 series. Steels such as 301 are more corrosion resistant, although they turn magnetic when cold worked.

 

Stainless steel suppliers, for instance, could exhibit different degrees of magnetic attraction. You can only truly inspect the quality with an alloy analyzer. By doing this, we will be able to determine what the alloy is composed of, its chemical composition, and its quality.

• The seals of stainless steel pipe fittings are the same as other material

 

Stainless steel is often criticized for its inability to seal well, or for being difficult to work with. People encounter this problem mainly because they are unaware that stainless steel has to be sealed differently than brass, for example.

The reason that the seal needs to be different is because of how hard the material is. Standard PTFE tape can be damaged by stainless threads, which could result in the tape being cut. As a result, the fitting and pipe can be fused, making it difficult to separate and preventing good sealing.

stainless steel plumbing should be done with a tape containing nickel. When tightened, the nickel provides strength to the tape. In this way, you should be able to create a perfect seal, and you'll be able to remove the threads if you need to. 

• All Stainless Steel Fittings are the same
  
  

It is important to know the specifications of various stainless steels to determine the type of stainless steel that is best for a particular application.Plumbing industry stainless steel comes in two grades: 304 and 316. Based on their chemical composition, these numbers represent each element. They differ primarily in corrosion resistance. A 316 Stainless Steel fitting is much more corrosion resistant than aluminum and can be used in industries, commercial applications, and so forth. In the context of more "every day" plumbing, 304 is conventional stainless steel. The corrosion resistance of 304 is still much higher than that of other materials like brass or galvanized.

 

It is also important to pay attention to the pattern or thickness of the fitting. You are likely to see five different patterns. Each of these will have a different pressure rating. It is obvious that the thicker the pattern, the higher the pressure rating will be.

 

Conclusion

There are differences among stainless steel pipe fittings. You should be aware of the varied configurations. We can help you decide which option is right for you by consulting a professional at Rhinox.