STAINLESS STEEL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 January 1922, Page 3

STAINLESS STEEL.

ABUNDANT NEW USES. Stainless steel, which was discovered in the research laboratory of a British steel works, has been developed recently in quite a number of engineering directions. One of the most successful is in connection with the blades of steam turbines. Hitherto these blades ha*Ve been made of 5 per cent, nickel steel, which wals / the best known substance for the purpose. Nickel steel, found to corrode and wear away under the action of the steam, and it oecurred to the inventors of stainless steel that it would be worth-while trying whether the new material would stand up better than nickel steel. Accordingly several stainless steel blades, were inserted in a steam turbine more than a year ago. When the turbine wa l s again opened recently the stainless \teel blades were found as clean and smooth asr on "the day they had been inserted, while the nickel blades were deeply pitted, and their edges badly worn away. A British electrical engineering firm made a similar experiment for a longer period with the like result. As the pitting of turbine blades reduces the efficiency of the machine, and involves costly replacement, it is practically certain that stainless steel will sv.pplant nickel steel for this parpose. Apart from engineering uses, the most popular new application for stainless steel appears to be in connection with golf clubs. For (his purpose stainless steel is ideal. Other familiar uses include mirrors, fenders, fire-irons, knives, scissors, and surgical instruments. U 4 . •