Benefits of Using Different Types of Metals for Fabrication

When it comes to metal types for custom fabrication, there are a number of options to choose from — and each has unique advantages and setbacks. Read on for the benefits and details of the various types of fabricated metals.

Carbon Steel

Carbon steel is a popular choice for metal fabrication as it is affordable, durable and versatile. Carbon steel is thick, heavy and inexpensive, which means it will often be the most sensible choice for applications requiring large amounts of metal. Carbon steel is tough enough to serve for products that you may subject to tough conditions, such as ducts, tanks or structural applications. Low carbon steel is pliable, so it works well with metal fabrication processes. It’s important to galvanize or otherwise coat carbon steel products to protect them from corrosion.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel has a high chromium content (over 10.5 percent, typically). The main benefit is that it does not rust, so there is no galvanizing required. In other respects, it is just as effective as carbon steel. Naturally, because of its corrosion-resistant properties, it is more expensive than carbon steel, so industries usually reserve it for situations where non-corrosive metal is crucial, like food processing bins.

Aluminum

Aluminum fabrication is a popular alternative to stainless steel. It is corrosion-resistant, flexible, lightweight, and requires little maintenance. Like stainless steel, aluminum resists corrosion and, as a rule of thumb, is generally more resilient in this regard than all but the most expensive stainless steels. It is popularly used in the aerospace and automotive industries, where keeping weight low is a priority.

Copper

Unlike steel alloys, copper is a native metal. You can find it in its pure state in nature. It is attractive and has antibacterial properties, making it appealing for metal fabrication jobs where sanitation is important, like bathtubs, sink fixtures, pots and pans. Copper is easy to work with and has been a popular metal for fabrication for thousands of years. It is a testament to copper’s benefits that it is still in popular use today.