Aluminized Steel Vs. Stainless Steel

The world which we live in today, at least in the urban and developed areas, would not have been half as much with regards to construction, cookware, industry, if it would not have been for steel. I mean can we imagine our lives without steel? Surely we cannot, isn't it? It is hard to even list in how many forms and in how many innumerable things of our daily use, do we use steel. The story, moreover, just begins here. Steel has become much more than just a metal for many of us. In this article I will try and describe the difference between a couple of very common forms of steel - aluminized steel and stainless steel.

Aluminized Steel Vs. Stainless Steel

Even though both of these are varieties of steel, these two have their distinct characteristics which identify them and determine their uses. There a number of points of differentiation between the two. Here we take a look at them.

The Look and Composition
Well, we all know how good stainless steel can look. On the contrary, aluminized steel is low on aesthetics as compared to stainless steel. That eventually gives stainless steel an upper hand in construction. The aluminized steel properties do not allow it to be used in industries much. While aluminized steel comes in two forms, Type 1 and Type 2, with type 1 coated with a thin layer of aluminum and silicon and type 2 steel coated with pure aluminum, stainless steel has 3 gradations or there are 3 stainless steel types - The ferritic grades of stainless steel contain chromium and carbon as alloying agents. A level above the ferritic grades are the martensitic grades, which contain more than 0.1 percent carbon and chromium. The austenitic grade, which contains at least 10 percent nickel, is top of the rung stainless steel, giving it excellent corrosion-resistance properties and molding properties.

Thermal Conductivity
Okay, by this I mean how good is the thermal conductivity of both. Now here aluminized steel scores a point with high thermal conductivity. It also comes with an electrostatic surface, making it a viable choice in exhaust systems and mufflers. Stainless steel on the other hand has a high thermal expansion co-efficient. This refers to the fact that it can change shape when it is exposed to over heating. This fact should tell you whether aluminized steel or stainless steel exhausts are more common.

The Strongest of the Two
The strength of the metal is a major point of contention. When it comes to corrosion resistance and overall strength, stainless steel comes out trumps. As compared to aluminized steel, stainless steel is durable too and does not rust. Stainless steel does not rust as a result of it being composed of chromium. In case of aluminized steel, if the aluminum coat peels off or is broken, it can get corroded. So you can see which one is stronger when and durable. Check out some more about stainless steel in stainless steel types and properties.

Money Matters
Another point of discussion in aluminized steel vs. stainless steel is the economic factor. Aluminized steel is less expensive as compared to stainless steel. The reason is that the production cost of aluminized steel is less as compared to stainless steel.

Now, we will have to see the products made by using these two. Water heaters, ranges, grills and furnaces are a forte when it comes to aluminized steel. On the other hand, stainless steel is used in kitchen utensils, cookware, tanks and in construction too. Check out some more about steel in the article uses of galvanized steel from Buzzle.

So now I guess you can now make a choice regarding aluminized steel or stainless steel! Hope this was useful!