Stainless and Galvanized Steel Wire Ropes

Steel is widely used as a reliable and strong material. From building buildings and bridges to lifting operations, steel is an indispensable metal. To get the most out of steel, it is important to recognize that different types exist. In the wire rope industry, the two most popular steel forms are stainless steel and galvanized steel. Each offers amazing benefits, but both should not be used interchangeably. Below, we want to highlight the main differences between these two types of steel.

Wire Rope

Wire Rope

Stainless steel is often seen as the more commonly used steel when compared to the galvanized variant. One of the main reasons it is widely used is because it is suitable for most applications. This benefit, however, comes with a cost, meaning that stainless steel is often more expensive than galvanized steel wire ropes. The price is often warranted, considering that these cables are known to provide high ROI. These wire ropes are also known to have a long lifespan under harsh and unique conditions. Compared to tungsten, stainless steel does not tolerate heat as well, but the material still has incredibly high levels that are effective for cable construction.

Galvanized steel wire ropes, on the other hand, have a limited amount of practical applications over stainless steel. Galvanized steel has a high tolerance for friction, which is often experienced in industrial applications. The aerospace industry often used this material. Galvanized steel is coated steel, which means that this material is less expensive than other wire rope alternatives. 

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