Stainless Round Bar

What is a stainless-steel round bar?

A stainless-steel round bar is a long, cylindrical rod made of stainless steel, a type of steel that contains at least 10.5% chromium and is highly resistant to corrosion. This 10.5% figure varies dependant on the actual grade of Stainless Steel, but 10.5% is the minimum amount of Chromium required in order for the alloy to be termed as Stainless Steel. As well as the Chromium, Stainless Steel is made from mainly Iron (around 60%) and varying smaller amounts of other metals such as Nickel, Titanium, and Copper complete the composition of the alloy.

Stainless steel round bars are known for their strength, durability, and corrosion resistance, making them a popular choice in a range of industries. Industries including construction, manufacturing, and machinery. They are available in various sizes and grades, and can be cut to length or fabricated to meet specific design requirements.

What are the benefits of stainless steel?

The main benefit of Stainless Steel is its resistance to corrosion, and this is all down to the addition of the Chromium. When the Chromium meets oxygen, it mixes to form a microscopically thin layer of oxide over the surface of the material. Imagine dividing a millimetre into 750 equal parts – one of those is approximately the same thickness as this layer of oxide! Despite being so thin, it is this layer that protects the metal below from corroding / rusting. As a general rule of thumb, the higher the percentage of Chromium in the material, the more corrosion resistant it will be.

As well as being able to withstand the elements, Stainless Steel is also a very hard and also a very strong metal. In recent times this has seen it being used more and more in the construction industry as it’s durability and corrosion resistance are benefits that outweigh its comparable high cost versus carbon steels. You will also commonly see Stainless Steel used in and around buildings for radiators, light fittings, lifts, cladding, signs, railings & balustrades on steps & stairwells, and sanitary ware in toilets – items such as toilets, gent’s urinals, sinks, units, taps, bins, toilet roll holders & towel rails are all often fabricated from Stainless Steel.

As a generalisation, Stainless Steel is also very good at resisting acids. Although of course there are many different types of acid and many different grades of Stainless Steel and therefore some grades of Stainless are more suited for use with certain types of acid than others.

Which industries use stainless steel round bars?

Construction and Manufacturing

Often used in the construction of buildings and other structures, some of the most common uses for stainless steel round bars in construction are for support beams, columns, and other structural elements. Stainless steel round bars are also used in the manufacturing of a wide range of products, including parts for machinery, tools, and other equipment. Parts such as bolts, screws, and shafts.

Chemical processing

Stainless steel round bars are resistant to corrosion, making them ideal for use in chemical processing applications where they may come into contact with corrosive substances. Acids, hydraulic fluid, and even salt water, can have dramatic effects on the materials they come into contact with. If the pipes were made from metals with lower resistance, they could fail or leak.

Medical and food processing

Metals used in food and medicine do not only need to have good corrosion resistance, they also need to be easy to clean. Contamination can lead to people becoming unwell, and during production, the machines need to be sterile. Stainless-steel is one of the best materials for sterile environments.

Marine and outdoor applications

Boats and submarines need to meet some crucial criteria in order to be safe and legal to use. The structural parts that are subject to sea water, will need to be resistant to corrosion. The structure needs to be as strong, and with little to no failure points.

Decorative application

Heavily trafficked places, such as pedestrian escalators and lifts are often clad in stainless steel. Whilst looking stylish the stainless steel is also strong and robust enough to deal with the rigors of literally thousands of people plus a range of heavy items such as shopping trolleys and suitcases coming into contact with it every single day. Handrails are another example of matching function with form. Stainless-steel round bar is not only going to last a long time, it also has a modern silver-like finish.

Automotive Industry

The automotive industry is another area where Stainless Steel is very common. Intake & exhaust valves, catalytic converters, silencers and exhausts, clamps, clips & brackets are all often manufactured from stainless steel on cars & motorcycles due to its corrosion resistance. Car & motor bike enthusiasts will often modify their vehicles by manufacturing their own replacement parts and trims out of Stainless Steel as not only is it weather resistant, it is also great for polishing; and mirror polished components really enhance the look of any engine bay.

What grades do the stainless-steel round bars come in?

Round Bar Grade 303

Round bar grade 303 is a type of stainless steel that is specifically formulated to be suitable for machining. It is a free-machining grade of stainless steel, which means it has added sulphur and other elements that make it easier to machine compared to other grades of stainless steel. Member of the austenitic family, Grade 303 is known for it’s corrosion resistance and ability to withstand high temperatures.

Round Bar Grade 304

Grade 304 is known for its good corrosion resistance, high strength, and toughness. Making it suitable for a variety of applications. Grade 304 stainless steel has good formability and can be easily welded, making it suitable for a range of fabrication processes.

Both grades 304 & 316 are FDA certified as food safe and for this reason the food and beverage industries are massive users of Stainless Steel. Just about anything that comes into contact with food can be found manufactured from Stainless Steel – the containers that you see on the road transporting liquids such as milk and beer, to the machines in factories that process & package our food; the worktops, splashbacks, utensils, ovens & fridges used in restaurants to prepare our food, the cutlery that we use to eat our food, and even the inside of the dishwasher that we use to clean our plates and cutlery afterwards – they are all made from Stainless Steel!

Why choose 1st choice metals for these bars?

As an independent stockholder and processor of non-ferrous metals, we supply industry, the general public, and everything in between. We are able to supply all types of materials, and cut them to your specifications, no matter how big or small your project is.

We currently stock a range of Stainless Steel Round Bars in both Grade 303 which is the free machining grade & also grade 304 which has decent machinability & excellent weldability.

The following diameters are on the shelf, ready for immediate despatch:

3mm dia
3/16” (4.76mm) dia
6mm dia.
8mm dia.
10mm dia.
12mm dia.
16mm dia.
20mm dia.
25mm dia.
30mm dia.
35mm dia.
40mm dia.
50mm dia.
2.1/4” (57mm) dia.
2.1/2” (63.5mm) dia.
70mm dia.
3” (76mm) dia.

We also have top quality grade 304 stainless steel sheet on the shelf ready to be sheared to the buyers required sizes and despatched immediately:

• Bright Annealed Sheet – similar to a bright or mirror polish – in the following thicknesses: 0.9mm, 1.2mm & 1.5mm.
• Dull Polished Grade 304 Sheet (Dull polish aka Brush Polish) in 0.9mm, 1.2mm, 1.5mm & 2mm Thick.
• 2B Finished Grade 304 Sheet in 2mm & 3mm thick.

Should you require any diameters, sizes, thickness, lengths or grades (such as 316 or 430) that we don’t currently stock, then please don’t hesitate to contact us for a competitive quote – most non stock items are still available for despatch in 24 – 48 hours – so go on, give us a try!