Stainless steel is used in a variety of different industrial and commercial applications. It is used in making the utensils that we use to eat off of, as well as in architecture, bridges, sculptures, airplanes and even vehicles and railway cars. The use of stainless steel strapping to hold signs and signals as well as banners is very common although this is a specialized type of use.
The History of Stainless Steel
Stainless steel was first discovered in the early 1800s by a French metallurgist by the name of Pierre Berthier. He was surprised to find how resistant his combination of iron and chromium was to exposure to acids. Although recognized as beneficial for cooking, the specific iron and chromium combinations were considered to brittle to be practical to mass produce items.
Research and experimentation when on in France and Germany throughout the 1800s but it wasn’t until 1912 that a patent was provided for an austenitic stainless steel. This was used to create a hull on a yacht and was proven to be highly resistant to corrosion, which was a big improvement on prior options available.
In 1912 the first martensitic stainless steel alloy was developed in the United States and a patent was granted in 1919. However, it was Harry Brearly of Sheffield, England, trying to find a corrosion resistant metal for gun barrels, who hit upon the combination that we now know as stainless steel. His alloy was made famous in Sheffield brand cutlery, still available today.
Brearly later applied for a patent in the United States with Elwood Haynes and developed the American Stainless Steel Corporation in Pittsburg.
Today’s Stainless Steel Strapping
Today’s stainless steel strapping contains the same corrosion resistant as the original stainless steel developed by the American Stainless Steel Corporation. Further refinements in quality control and processing allow todays manufacturers to prove uniformly top quality stainless steel strapping that meets all standards set up by ASTM.
Today’s stainless steel strapping is found in a variety of applications both in the United States and around the world. With its weather and corrosion resistance it is perfect for a range of different uses both indoors and out, making it one of the most versatile strapping products available.
