CONTENTS
Introduction
Stainless steel
Aluminum
Carbon steel
Copper pipes
Conclusion
INTRODUCTION
The bolted metal construction industry as a whole must produce strong, durable and resilient structures of all types and shapes. In this context, it seems logical that metal is commonly used in the construction industry to create a wide variety of structures and shapes.
However, it would not be fair to say that all tasks in the construction industry are performed with the same type of metal. In fact, there are many different variations of metals that are used depending on each project.
Although the total number of metal variations used in construction worldwide is extremely large, it is still possible to distinguish four main types of metal, which are considered most popular in this particular industry.
The patented starmodul system is compatible with all types of structural building materials.
These four types of pipes for the construction of bolted metal structures are:
Carbon steel;
Stainless steel;
Aluminum
Copper pipes.
Each of these metal types has its own list of use cases, which we will discuss below.
STAINLESS STEEL
stainless steel example
The combination of corrosion resistance, stain resistance and durability made stainless steel a great choice as a building metal many years ago, and today it is still considered one of the best materials. In fact, there are many structures built with stainless steel that are still standing even though they were built many years ago.
For example, the Chrysler Building, built in 1930, is still standing in New York, making it one of many testaments to why stainless steel is so popular.
The metal itself is strong, reliable and durable. It is an alloy of multiple metal variants, the most common being the so-called “301”, an easy-to-weld and ductile grade of stainless steel. It is used for railings, drainage components, roofing, all types of structural steel construction applications and much more.
Of course, there are many other grades of stainless steel: the grade of this metal is determined by the amount of each of its components in the final alloy. The aforementioned “301” grade is only one of many variations of stainless steel that can be used.
ALUMINIUM
aluminum example
Aluminum is another material that has been around for a long time and has countless different applications. As its main advantages are ductility, corrosion resistance and high conductivity.
Aluminum is also processed into many different forms, be it castings, sheets, tubes, etcetera. All of them are used to manufacture bicycles, automobiles, boats, trucks and other means of transportation. Aluminum’s usefulness does not end there: it is also used for handles, roofs, walls, heating, ventilation and air conditioning ducts, and much more.
CARBON STEEL
example of carbon steel
When it comes to pure strength, it is hard to imagine a metal alloy that is as widespread as carbon steel, another metal alloy that is mostly used in situations where a hard and strong metal structure is needed. Precisely for this reason, it is often used to create structural frame parts, rectangular tubes for bridges and trailer platforms, metal plates for road construction and much more.
Carbon steel is also used to manufacture hollow structural sections (HSS) and reinforcing bars. It is a combination of iron and carbon that can also change some of its specifications depending on the amount of carbon present in the alloy.
Starmodul recommends the use of galvanized steel pipe for its high strength and versatility.
COPPER PIPE
example of copper pipe
Piping is also a fairly popular part of construction as a whole, and this is where copper shines the brightest. Copper is often used as the primary material to create all types of piping for construction, and there are two variations of copper piping that can be used.
Soft copper is used for heat pumps and refrigerant lines (HVAC), while rigid copper is more suitable for running water pipes inside buildings (both hot and cold water). Copper is corrosion resistant, recyclable, but also malleable and ductile; this combination of parameters makes it one of the best choices for pipes of all metal variants.
CONCLUSION
Metal is one of the most important materials in construction as a whole, and there are many variations of such metal: different types of metal, different alloys, etc. In this article, we have tried to cover some of the most popular types of metal, as well as their use cases.
Starmodul has patented joints for the easy assembly of these types of tubes.
