7 uncommon applications

Due to its corrosion resistance and machinable properties, stainless steel has common applications in many industries. Often unnoticed in our daily lives, stainless steel is found in everything from construction to medicine, making it a versatile and eco-friendly material.

Due to its corrosion resistance and machinable properties, stainless steel is the material of choice for a lot of industries. Often times we don’t even realise how common stainless steel is in our day-to-day lives, from construction to utensils to automobiles and medicine, it is used everywhere. It is also endlessly recyclable making it an eco-friendly choice as well, which is why a lot of industries are exploring ways to incorporate stainless steel into its products. 

Here we will look at some applications of this material that are common but unknown to most people:  

1. Art and sculptures: When we think of stainless steel we think of large structures, it is synonymous with construction, buildings and sculptures. A lot of modern-day art and sculptures are made with steel due to its corrosion resistance properties as well as its ability to withstand extreme temperatures along with the ability to be moulded into shapes and the different material finishes that it is available in. Stainless steel is also used in anti-tarnish fashion jewellery for the same reasons.
2. Medical implants: Stainless steel is antiseptic and hence is used in many fields of medicine including as artificial joints and bones. But not all grades of stainless steel can be used for these purposes, only the biocompatible grades are used to make artificial joints, bone plates and screws for mending together broken bones or joints. Stainless steel screws and pins have been used to help thousands of people recover from serious injuries.
3. Shoes: Designer Naim Josefi used a 3D printer using layers and layers of metal powder to print out a pair of unusual Stainless-steel shoes. These unique shoes are 100 per cent recyclable and will definitely last long however, a completely metal shoe is still in a concept stage, stainless steel has been used in shoe making for a while now. A lot of times stainless steel is used in the protective toe cap, as well as for anti-penetration liners for safety shoes. 
4. Fabric and Carpets: When we think of stainless steel we often think of big structures, however this material due to its highly mouldable nature can be made into very fine wires that are used to weave fabrics, worn by those who work in electrical fields or by people who work in textiles industry. Stainless steel sheets are also cut into sequins to embellish garments since the material can be polished into various finishes and is durable and heat resistant, these embellishments last longer. 
5. Carpets: As above, certain companies have been known to use stainless steel fibres while weaving carpets to protect from static electricity and to limit shock risks. 
6. Touchscreen gloves: Also known as Capacitouch, fibres of conductive stainless steel thread are woven into the tips of the touchscreen gloves, that use electrical conductivity, making it compatible to use with touch screen devices and retains their effectiveness even after repeated washing.
7. Stainless steel soap: Stainless steel apart from being a hygienic material, also helps to remove odours and as quirky as it sounds, stainless steel bars are used as soaps to effectively remove extreme odours from your hands or any other part of your skin. While these soap-like bars won’t remove bacteria or germs like a normal soap, these are used purely for the odour removal qualities. Just simply rub the bar on your hands after handling garlic, fish or onion, and poof, the smell will vanish. This likely works due to the way substances in stainless steel bind to sulphur compounds and limit odours.

Exploring these diverse uses highlights the versatility and importance of stainless steel in our modern world. As industries continue to innovate, stainless steel’s role in various applications is only set to expand.