When it comes to choosing the right wire rope, you need to ensure you choose the materials best suited to meet your application’s needs, while also being sensitive to budget. This requires working with the right stainless steel wire supplier that knows their products and understands your application. Commercial and Domestic builders know that Stainless Steel Wire Rope is cost-effective, strong, durable, corrosion-resistant, and heat resistant. This makes stainless steel among the more popular wire materials precisely due to its wide range of applications and affordability.
What is Stainless Steel Wire Rope?
Stainless steel wire rope is very common and used in many commercial and industrial applications. Stainless steel has chromium added to the steel to provide some degree of protection against rust and corrosion. Stainless steel is not immune to those environmental effects but is better protected than pure non-treated steel because of its relationship with oxygen. Stainless steel wire rope is used predominantly in applications where it is not exposed to the outdoor elements to avoid rust or corrosion damaging the wire rope.
Stainless steel wire rope has standardized international grading applied by the AISI. available in many grades 304 and 316 being the most common.
- 304 grade stainless steel is the ‘economy’ version suiting general use, G304Â contains approximately 18% chromium and 8% nickel
- 316 grade stainless steel is recommended for use in aggressive environments – such as in and around marine locations, petrochemical plants or desalination plants. G316 contains 16% chromium, 10% nickel and 2% molybdenum. The molybdenum is added to help resist corrosion to chlorides (like sea water, chlorides and de-icing salts)
#1 Cost-Effective
Stainless steel wire rope suppliers often recommend it over other cable construction materials because of its cost-effectiveness over time. But what’s interesting is that its affordability is well documented in municipal construction based on data collected over time. Evidence supports its low maintenance, longevity, availability and ease of use and installation. Therefore the material’s mechanical malleability, including its lifespan, combined with how readily available it is, makes stainless steel ideal in many use cases.
 As a stainless steel wire rope supplier, Low Cost Wire works with industry-standard stainless steel, such as 304, 316 and 316L stainless steel. We are proud to be a supplier of over-the-counter stainless steel cable and a manufacturer of an entire family of custom cable assemblies.
#2 Strong
Stainless steel is an industry-standard is because of stainless steel wire rope’s strength and durability.  For example, Grade 304 and 316 stainless steel possesses a tensile strength of up to 1300 MPa in strip and wire forms. Similarly dimensioned galvanized steel, with a tensile strength of up to 550 MPa, comparatively, makes stainless steel remarkably strong.
#3 Easy to Work With
Another feature that makes stainless steel cable advantageous is that it’s easy to work with, compared to other materials. It is very easily formed, especially in the small-diameter wires inside the cable as well. What’s more, stainless steel mechanical cable is also easy to lay into the appropriate shape when stranded.
#4 Corrosion Resistance
If your application requires sensitivity to corrosion and dissimilar alloys and bimetallic electrolysis has been accounted for in the engineering, then stainless steel cable is an excellent choice. The material’s tolerance of harsh environmental conditions – when atmospheric oxygen is available – ensures the cable can take a beating over a long period of time by moisture. Comparatively speaking, non marine grade galvanized steel, is vulnerable to applications where corrosive variables are present, like marine or submerged saltwater uses.
Contact Us
Our Australian based Consulting team can help you decide which stainless steel wire rope is right for your application. Send an Email or call 1300 601 514 to get in touch with a team member and inquire about your stainless steel wire rope options!