2.

0 DETAILS ON THE TYPES OF MATERIALS CHOSEN

Material selection is a crucial part of any manufacturing process. Choosing the right material is so
important because the material defines the chemical and mechanical properties of the component
being manufactured, can significantly influence the longevity of the component, and ensures that part
functions properly.
From an environmental perspective, pollution-free solar and wind energy sources are vulnerable to
harsh conditions and corrosion-resistant materials help protect their critical components from damage
over time. This helps manufacturers safely build components for alternative energy sources and
contribute to a more sustainable economy. Here are the best corrosion-resistant materials to consider.
1. Stainless steel
Stainless steel alloys are renowned for the corrosion-resistance, ductility, and high strength. Corrosion
resistant qualities in stainless steels are directly tied to their chromium and nickel content more of
these elements correlate with increased resistance.
Most stainless-steel alloys on the market today contain at least 18% chromium. When chromium
oxidizes it forms a protective layer of chromium oxide on the surface of the metal part, which both
prevents corrosion and prevents oxygen from reaching the underlying steel.

Stainless-steel alloys

Properties of Stainless Steel

 Corrosion Resistance
This is the reason most people use Stainless steel for making their products. Anti-corrosion property
makes products made from Stainless steel last longer.

 Strength
Products made from stainless steel have huge tensile strength. Therefore, they can support huge
weights. Depending on the stainless-steel types, you can have stainless steel with higher tensile
strength, which means more weight can be supported.

 Temperature Tolerance
Stainless has high-temperature tolerance depending on the type. While it will later melt, it can take so
much heat before melting.
2. Aluminium
Aluminium alloys are non-toxic, 100% recyclable, have a high strength-to-weight ratio, have high
thermal and electrical conductivity, and are easily machinable. Also, aluminium is unique because it’s
one of the few materials that are naturally corrosion resistant.
This material contains little to no iron so it cannot rust, though it can oxidize. When an aluminium
alloy is exposed to water and oxidizes, a process called self-passivation, a film of aluminium oxide
forms on the surface of the part and protects it from corrosion. Aluminium 5052-H32 is more
corrosion-resistant than other varieties of aluminium and forms a bright, smooth finish.
This oxidation process can also be closely controlled through a process called anodization. Also,
aluminium is unique because it’s one of the few innovative materials for additive manufacturing that
are naturally corrosion resistant. Anodization is a low-cost controlled finish that is widely used. This
process also allows for colour to be added to the part, allowing further customization for different use
cases.
Aluminium is frequently used in aerospace applications, automotive body panels, salt-water sensitive
applications, and other situations where a high-performance material is required. Manufacturers
should consider using aluminium if they need an affordable corrosion-resistant material, while
keeping in mind that aluminium fabrication can be messy and a hassle to work with.

Aluminium
Aluminium offers a rare combination of valuable properties. It is one of the lightest metals in the
world: it's almost three times lighter than iron but it's also very strong, extremely flexible and
corrosion resistant because its surface is always covered in an extremely thin and yet very strong layer
of oxide film. It doesn't magnetise, it's a great electricity conductor and forms alloys with practically
all other metals.
3. Polypropylene
Metals aren’t the only corrosion-resistant materials available. Polypropylene, one of the most popular
plastics in the manufacturing industry and is an especially common plastic for producing car parts. It’s
also one of the most corrosion-resistant plastics.
This thermoplastic polymer resin has been nicknamed the “steel of the plastic industry” for its
toughness, ability to withstand high levels of physical pressure, and resistance to a wide range of
corrosive elements such as oil, solvents, water, bacteria, and more. High-density polypropylene
(HDPE) offers higher tensile strength and an increased working temperature range. However, this
material’s high flammability and high thermal coefficient limit its usefulness for high-temperature
applications. Also, it’s important to note that polypropylene is susceptible to oxidation, UV
degradation, and certain chlorinated solvents.

Polypropylene
Some of the most significant properties of polypropylene are:

 Chemical Resistance:
Diluted bases and acids don’t react readily with polypropylene, which makes it a good choice for
containers of such liquids, such as cleaning agents, first-aid products, and more.

 Elasticity and Toughness

Polypropylene will act with elasticity over a certain range of deflection (like all materials), but it will
also experience plastic deformation early in the deformation process, so it is generally considered a
"tough" material. Toughness is an engineering term which is defined as a material's ability to deform
(plastically, not elastically) without breaking.

 Fatigue Resistance
Polypropylene retains its shape after a lot of torsion, bending, and/or flexing. This property is
especially valuable for making living hinges.
  Insulation
polypropylene has a very high resistance to electricity and is very useful for electronic components.

 Transmissivity
Although Polypropylene can be made transparent, it is normally produced to be naturally opaque in
color. Polypropylene can be used for applications where some transfer of light is important or where it
is of aesthetic value. If high transmissivity is desired, then plastics like Acrylic or Polycarbonate are
better choices.