#Franke Stainless Steel
The Why of Stainless Steel
The reasons almost 70% of all sinks are stainless steel:
The What of Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel is an alloy of iron, chromium and nickel, generated to create advantages that individual pure metals do not offer. So it’s a whole greater than the sum of its parts. The name refers to the rust resistant properties of the metal: which is “stain-less”, but not “stain-proof.” These are its ingredients:
- Austenite is a nonmagnetic solid solution of carbon in iron, used in making corrosion-resistant steel of the kind used for making cutlery, hospital and food-service equipment, and tableware.
- Chromium (Cr) is a hard, malleable, glossy, gray, chemical element with no odor or taste, used in alloys to give them corrosion resistance and a glistening look. It is most responsible for the corrosion resistance of stainless steel.
- Nickel (Ni) is a hard, ductile, silvery-white, chemical element, a high-luster metal with a high level of corrosion resistance.
- Passivation Layer -- When stainless steel contains a sufficient amount of chromium, a hard, invisible, virtually impenetrable film of chromium oxide forms on the surface. Although only a few atoms thick, this prevents further surface corrosion when the stainless steel is exposed to corrosive materials and prevents any corrosion from spreading into the metal's internal structure. By definition, stainless steel resists corrosion, the gradual degradation of a metal or alloy especially by oxidation or chemical reaction. (Gold, platinum and palladium are the only metals not subject to corrosion.) But the level of corrosion resistance varies, based on factors in manufacturing:
- Chemical composition of the metal
- Temperature and temperature variations
- Oxygen content and exposure to oxygen
Even slight variations in chemical compositions result in wide variation in quality. In other words, NOT ALL STAINLESS STEEL IS CREATED EQUAL.
There are several different types, and many different grades of stainless steel, so to deserve its “luxury” designation, Franke insists on creating and maintaining “differences that make a difference to you.”
