Stainless Steel Equipment For Clinics: What Makes It The Best Option?

​Stainless steel is incredibly durable, but with lightweight options like molded aluminium and other materials cropping up, what makes stainless steel remain the top choice for clinical equipment?

Why Is It Used?
There are countless reasons that lead to clinics and hospitals sticking to stainless steel for their equipment and fitouts. One of the top reasons is: it’s hygienic. Stainless steel is one of the most hygienic options you can find for any use. It is non-corrosive, non-porous, and stainless steel equipment will not have any cracks or joints to collect dirt and bacteria. Cleaning is also easier for the same reasons. 

Stainless steel can be shaped and molded into a variety of tools. Its durability and strength are two other options that lead to clinics and many other industries insisting on stainless steel products. After all, having to replace equipment regularly because it breaks or wears down is not a sustainable business choice. Stainless steel equipment, on the other hand, can last for years and beyond if properly cared for. 

How Is It Used?
Stainless steel is used in almost all facets of the health industry. For instance, dentists have stainless steel tools to clean and inspect teeth, doctors use stainless steel surgical tools, and stainless steel is used in the manufacturing of lager pieces of hospital and clinical equipment. Chances are, if you walk into any type of clinic and look around, you’ll see stainless steel used in a variety of ways.

What Is It Made Of?
Stainless steel’s main alloying element is Chromium, which is a Ferrite former. Molybdenum is also a Ferrite former. The other type of former is an Austenite former, which would include Nickel, Nitrogen, Carbon, etc. 

There are multiple types of stainless steel (five in total). They are: ferritic, martensitic, austenitic, precipitation hardening, and duplex. The first two in the list, ferritic and martensitic, were the first kinds of stainless steel produced back in the early 20th century. They are fully magnetic, while duplex stainless steel is partly magnetic. 

Martensitic stainless steel can be hardened by heat in a similar fashion to ordinary steel. All stainless steels contain some level of carbon and nickel. But, what does this mean for your project? It’s important, but it’s not necessarily a decision you will have to make on your own. 

Summary
When it comes to selecting the type of stainless steel for your application, that is where our expertise comes in. There are no physical differences that can be seen between the five types of stainless steel because they can only be examined at the microscopic level, but the type you use in your project is still important. For medical purposes, most manufacturing will use austenitic stainless steel so that will likely be the kind applied in your project. 

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our specialists for assistance or submit a quotation or drop us a line [email protected].