Guide to Selecting the Right Metal Plates: Comparing Steel, Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Copper and Their Alloys

Metal plates are a type of metal material that is widely used in many industries, including industry, construction, and machinery manufacturing. They are mostly in the form of flat or thin plates. The materials are rich and varied, and the most common ones are steel, aluminum and aluminum alloys, stainless steel, copper and copper alloys, titanium and titanium alloys, etc. These materials have their characteristics in performance, such as strength, corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity, etc., which enables metal plates to meet the needs of different scenarios.

Classification and characteristics of steel metal plates

Steel metal plates can be classified in various ways: from the perspective of composition, they can be divided into carbon steel plates and alloy steel plates. Carbon steel plates are further divided into low-carbon steel plates, medium-carbon steel plates and high-carbon steel plates according to the carbon content; from the perspective of processing technology, there are hot-rolled steel plates and cold-rolled steel plates; from the perspective of thickness, there are thin plates (thickness ≤ 3mm), medium and thick plates (thickness 4-60mm) and extra thick plates (thickness > 60mm); from the perspective of use, they can be divided into structural steel plates, tool steel plates and special performance steel plates.

The characteristics of steel metal plates are mainly reflected in their high strength, ability to withstand large loads, good plasticity and toughness, and not easy to break under external forces. In addition, it has excellent machinability and can be processed and formed through a variety of processes, such as forging, rolling, and welding.

Classification and characteristics of aluminum and aluminum alloy metal plates

Aluminum and aluminum alloy metal plates are a kind of light metal material widely used in many industries. From the perspective of chemical composition, they can be divided into different types, such as 1xxx series to 7xxx series industrial pure aluminum, aluminum-copper alloy, aluminum-manganese alloy, aluminum-silicon alloy, aluminum-magnesium alloy, aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloy, aluminum-zinc alloy, and 8xxx series is an alloy composed of aluminum and other elements. In terms of processing technology, they can be divided into cold-rolled and hot-rolled aluminum plates; according to thickness, there are thin plates and medium-thick plates; if divided by surface shape, there are differences between flat plates and patterned aluminum plates.

Aluminum and aluminum alloy metal sheets are characterized by light texture, high strength, good corrosion resistance, and excellent electrical and thermal conductivity and processing properties. They are easy to form and surface treat and can meet the diverse needs of different scenarios, such as industrial production and construction projects.

Classification and characteristics of stainless steel metal plates

Stainless steel metal plates can be classified in many ways. From the perspective of organizational structure, they can be divided into austenite, ferrite, martensite, duplex and other types; according to chemical composition, there are chromium stainless steel, chromium-nickel stainless steel, chromium-nickel-molybdenum stainless steel, etc.; according to performance characteristics and uses, they can be divided into different types such as nitric acid resistance and sulfuric acid resistance; according to thickness, they can be divided into thin plates, medium plates, thick plates and extra-thick plates, etc. In addition, according to surface characteristics, there are stainless steel plates with different surface treatment types, such as NO.1, NO.2D, NO.2B, BA, NO.3, NO.4, etc.

Its main feature is strong corrosion resistance. The chromium element it contains can form a passivation film on its surface, thereby enhancing its corrosion resistance. It has excellent strength, good plasticity and toughness and is not easy to break when subjected to force. During the processing, stainless steel metal plates are suitable for both hot rolling and cold rolling processes, and through a variety of surface treatment methods, they can present a rich surface effect to meet different usage requirements.

Classification and characteristics of copper and copper alloy metal plates

Copper and copper alloy metal plates are commonly used materials in industry. They can be divided into different types according to their alloy composition and processing technology. In terms of alloy composition, they can be divided into pure copper plates, brass plates, bronze plates and white copper plates. In terms of processing technology, they can be divided into hot-rolled copper plates, cold-rolled copper plates and forged copper plates.

Copper and copper alloy metal sheets are used in electrical and electronic equipment because they are excellent electrical and thermal conductors. They also have good corrosion resistance and are stable in humid or chemically corrosive environments. In addition, this metal sheet material has good processing properties and can be processed hot or cold so that it can be made into various complex shapes. At the same time, their excellent mechanical properties, high strength and toughness make them suitable for structural parts that need to withstand large loads. In addition, copper and copper alloy metal sheets have a variety of appearances, with different colors and glosses, and can be subjected to a variety of surface treatments, so they are also suitable for decorative purposes.

Performance comparison and application selection of different metal plates

In terms of performance, steel metal plates have the highest strength and are suitable for load-bearing structures; stainless steel metal plates have high strength and strong corrosion resistance and are suitable for harsh environments; aluminum and aluminum alloy metal plates have low strength but lightweight, which is convenient for transportation and installation; copper and copper alloy metal plates have moderate strength and are mainly used for conduction and decoration.

In terms of cost, steel metal plates have the highest cost-effectiveness, aluminum and aluminum alloy metal plates have low processing costs, and stainless steel and copper and copper alloy metal plates have high raw material and processing costs.

In terms of application, stainless steel, aluminum and aluminum alloy metal plates are mostly used for decoration in the construction field, while steel metal plates are used for structural support; in automobile manufacturing, aluminum and aluminum alloy metal plates are used for the body to reduce weight, and steel metal plates are used for chassis and other parts to ensure strength; in the electrical field, copper and copper alloy metal plates are used as conductive materials and aluminum and aluminum alloy metal plates are used for parts that do not require high conductivity; in the food processing field, stainless steel metal plates are mostly used to ensure hygiene and corrosion resistance.

Supplier

RBOSCHCO is a trusted global chemical material supplier & manufacturer with over 12 years experience in providing super high-quality chemicals and Nanomaterials. The company export to many countries, such as USA, Canada, Europe, UAE, South Africa,Tanzania,Kenya,Egypt,Nigeria,Cameroon,Uganda,Turkey,Mexico,Azerbaijan,Belgium,Cyprus,Czech Republic, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Dubai, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia,Germany, France, Italy, Portugal etc. As a leading nanotechnology development manufacturer, RBOSCHCO dominates the market. Our professional work team provides perfect solutions to help improve the efficiency of various industries, create value, and easily cope with various challenges. If you are looking for metal plates, please send an email to: sales1@rboschco.com

Tags: metal plate,steel plate,stainless steel plate