– This is by far the most popular and well-known among corrosion-resistant steels currently available in the market, due to its versatility. The principal chemical component in stainless steel alloys is Chromium. This chemical undergoes passivation on the surface of stainless steel plates that will form an inert patina that is not visible to the naked eye but provides resistance to a multitude of corrosive conditions. This also protects it from both galvanic and acidic corrosion.

Stainless steel provides proven reliability in protecting against a range of corrosives and comes in different grades available for specific applications. The thin protective layer provided by the Chromium in these alloys is self-repairing, which ensures that any corrosive effect will not spread into the rest of the material when a specific area on the surface is damaged. This surface does not flake over time.

– This is iron with anywhere from less than 1% carbon up to 2.5% carbon. When Chromium is added and reaches at least 10.5% of its composition, it then becomes stainless steel. If it has less than 10.5% Chromium, then it is, by definition, still Carbon Steel. Although Carbon steel is classified as separate from Alloy steels (such as Stainless Steel), it is sometimes referred to as a 'low-alloy' steel due to some carbon steels containing other materials, albeit very low in composition.

Carbon Steel is very susceptible to rust due to the absence of corrosion-resistant chemicals such as Chromium. However, this makes it far cheaper in addition to having its own set of varying mechanical properties based on its carbon content.