A matter of use

Let yourself be inspired by ductile and malleable metals: you will get the chance to find the winning one for your project.
Being a materic, versatile, one-of-a-kind material, metal will be able to solve your needs thanks to its capability to adapt to the most various uses.

loader-image

Aluminum is one of the youngest metals for industrial use, having first been produced on a large scale around 200 years ago. The name aluminum comes from Alum, an aluminum sulphate known and used since ancient times to prepare dyes and medicines.

It is light and it has a high resistance-weight ratio. It is resistant to corrosion, thanks to a very thin layer of oxide, which prevents the oxygen to oxidize the underlying metal. It is an excellent heat and electricity conductor. It can be cut with milling machines, disc saws and state-of-the-art fiber lasers, both in tubes and sheets, it can easily be bended and TIG and MIG welded. It comes in various formats of sheets and tubes, which are very common on the market. The process of extrusion of the profiles is a convenient technique (cheap molds) but also suitable for large and recurring lots. It is completely and endlessly recyclable, and it is also quite cheap (compared to other metals with the same sqm its weight is 1/3) given its high processability. It requires a reasonable amount of energy for the fusion and for the following millworks or extrusions.

Aluminum is a soft material, and it can be processed with tools for chip removal and lately also with next-generation laser cuts. It is bendable both in sheets and tubes, it is both TIG and MIG weldable and the welding mark, once it is removed, becomes invisible. The mirror polishing processing is quite easy on aluminum, as its softness facilitates the polishing, but it is also very fragile before the finishing process, which always increases the superficial hardness. Aluminum is also processed industrially: fusion, extrusion, forging and pressing.

Being light and resistant, aluminum is used for cladding palaces and rooftops as well as for renovations where weight is a critical topic. In the furniture sector it is used for door and window structures etc. and in the naval sector for boarding ladders, railings, balustrades, bed and wardrobe structures, common spaces, bars, ceiling, and column cladding etc. Combining its lightness and anti-corrosion features, it is widely used for electrical appliances, refrigerators, and industrial machines.

Aluminum is white with small traces of blue, and its color is often linked to the idea of technology. Aluminum can be processed to obtain different aesthetics: with powder coating, liquid coating and anodic oxidation, only after the polishing and the satin finish have been applied to the surface. Being so soft, it can also be mechanically processed through bush-hammering, hammering, crumpling etc.

Aluminum is a chemical element of the periodic table of elements: its atomic number is 13. Its symbol is Al and it weighs 2,7gr/cm3. Aluminum is mainly extracted out of bauxite, the most common mineral on earth.

loader-image

The first proof of the use of iron dates back to 4000 years B.C. to the Sumerians and the Hittites, who used to employ it for small items like spear heads and jewels recovered from iron of meteorites. It is estimated that iron is the most common metal within planet earth, considering its abundance inside the core and the Earth’s mantle.

Common steel guarantees very good mechanical performance even after high-stress processings (such as deep drawing, bending, welding and polishing). It is completely and endlessly recyclable and it is the cheapest metal, even considering the surface treatment that is needed to stabilize it, unlike stainless steel. It requires a large amount of energy for the fusion and for the following millworks.

Common steel can be easily laser processed, both in sheets and tubes and in different thicknesses: it is bendable and TIG, MIG and autogenous weldable. It can also be polished, up to the mirror polishing.

It is used in every field of the construction and furniture industry, being high-performing mechanically. For this reason, it is used where there is a need of high resistance with small sections. It can be used to build chairs, tables, balustrades, electrical appliances, door handles, furniture doors, etc.

Being oxidizable, iron must always be protected from humidity with layers of powder, liquid or noble metals coatings, the latter through galvanic processes, metallization, or zinc baths. Through oxidation, and heat and chemical treatments, we can create very nice and catchy materic finishes: for their protection we employ a natural process which involves rubbing beeswax and then, once it dries up, we polish them with a soft cloth.

Iron is usually employed to get steel, which is an alloy of iron, carbon and other elements. Iron is the chemical element with 36 as atomic number. Fe is its symbol, which comes from ferrum, the Latin name of this metal. It weighs 7,9gr/cm. There are several formats of sheets on the market, and DMM can process sheets up to 5000x1500 mm and iron tubes up to 6500mm length and 200mm diameter. Sheets and tubes are easy to find.

loader-image

The Latin name for copper – cuprum – comes from the island of Cyprus, the place where this material used to be extracted, due to its large deposits. The chemical symbol comes from its Latin name: CU. Copper is the most ancient metal, second only to gold. Its first use, such as for jewels and ornaments, dates back to 10.000 years ago. This malleable orange-reddish metal has accompanied us along every phase of our evolution.

Copper is a bacteriostatic material, meaning that it fights proliferating bacteria on its surface. It is magnetic and it is an excellent thermal conductor. It is also highly resistant to corrosion, even if not treated, thanks to a natural adherent superficial coat, shifting from brown to green and blue green. Ductile, malleable and robust at the same time, it can be processed into thin wires and low thickness sheets. It is easily processable and recyclable and it is advantageous in terms of benefits and price ratio. It requires a large amount of energy for the fusion and for the following millworks.

Among its processability features, the fiber laser cutting stands out as very easy on copper, both of tubes and sheets. It is easy to bend and to MIG, TIG and autogenous weld. It is easy to polish, even if, once it is polished, it oxidizes quickly.

In the construction industry, it has been used for thousands of years for roof claddings, palaces and churches claddings. In the furniture industry, it is used for kitchen doors, boiserie claddings, decorative inserts, lamps and accessories.

It is possible to obtain a great number of finishes on copper: mechanical, polishing, satin, bush-hammering, hammering, and colored finishes. The latter can be obtained through chemical and mechanical treatments to make the color palette almost unlimited. When used outdoors, copper can be employed without protection; being passivating, its oxidation will protect the material from decline.

Copper is the chemical element with 29 as atomic number. Its specific weight is 8,92gr/cm3. When combined with other materials, it can create various metal alloys (around 400 of them are used): the most common ones are bronze and brass, with tin and zinc, respectively. Its sheet format is limited in width: 1000mm is its standard, and 1250mm is hard to find. As for their length, it goes up to 5000mm.

loader-image

Aluminum is one of the youngest metals for industrial use, having first been produced on a large scale around 200 years ago. The name aluminum comes from Alum, an aluminum sulphate known and used since ancient times to prepare dyes and medicines.

It is light and it has a high resistance-weight ratio. It is resistant to corrosion, thanks to a very thin layer of oxide, which prevents the oxygen to oxidize the underlying metal. It is an excellent heat and electricity conductor. It can be cut with milling machines, disc saws and state-of-the-art fiber lasers, both in tubes and sheets, it can easily be bended and TIG and MIG welded. It comes in various formats of sheets and tubes, which are very common on the market. The process of extrusion of the profiles is a convenient technique (cheap molds) but also suitable for large and recurring lots. It is completely and endlessly recyclable, and it is also quite cheap (compared to other metals with the same sqm its weight is 1/3) given its high processability. It requires a reasonable amount of energy for the fusion and for the following millworks or extrusions.

Aluminum is a soft material, and it can be processed with tools for chip removal and lately also with next-generation laser cuts. It is bendable both in sheets and tubes, it is both TIG and MIG weldable and the welding mark, once it is removed, becomes invisible. The mirror polishing processing is quite easy on aluminum, as its softness facilitates the polishing, but it is also very fragile before the finishing process, which always increases the superficial hardness. Aluminum is also processed industrially: fusion, extrusion, forging and pressing.

Being light and resistant, aluminum is used for cladding palaces and rooftops as well as for renovations where weight is a critical topic. In the furniture sector it is used for door and window structures etc. and in the naval sector for boarding ladders, railings, balustrades, bed and wardrobe structures, common spaces, bars, ceiling, and column cladding etc. Combining its lightness and anti-corrosion features, it is widely used for electrical appliances, refrigerators, and industrial machines.

Aluminum is white with small traces of blue, and its color is often linked to the idea of technology. Aluminum can be processed to obtain different aesthetics: with powder coating, liquid coating and anodic oxidation, only after the polishing and the satin finish have been applied to the surface. Being so soft, it can also be mechanically processed through bush-hammering, hammering, crumpling etc.

Aluminum is a chemical element of the periodic table of elements: its atomic number is 13. Its symbol is Al and it weighs 2,7gr/cm3. Aluminum is mainly extracted out of bauxite, the most common mineral on earth.

loader-image

The first proof of the use of iron dates back to 4000 years B.C. to the Sumerians and the Hittites, who used to employ it for small items like spear heads and jewels recovered from iron of meteorites. It is estimated that iron is the most common metal within planet earth, considering its abundance inside the core and the Earth’s mantle.

Common steel guarantees very good mechanical performance even after high-stress processings (such as deep drawing, bending, welding and polishing). It is completely and endlessly recyclable and it is the cheapest metal, even considering the surface treatment that is needed to stabilize it, unlike stainless steel. It requires a large amount of energy for the fusion and for the following millworks.

Common steel can be easily laser processed, both in sheets and tubes and in different thicknesses: it is bendable and TIG, MIG and autogenous weldable. It can also be polished, up to the mirror polishing.

It is used in every field of the construction and furniture industry, being high-performing mechanically. For this reason, it is used where there is a need of high resistance with small sections. It can be used to build chairs, tables, balustrades, electrical appliances, door handles, furniture doors, etc.

Being oxidizable, iron must always be protected from humidity with layers of powder, liquid or noble metals coatings, the latter through galvanic processes, metallization, or zinc baths. Through oxidation, and heat and chemical treatments, we can create very nice and catchy materic finishes: for their protection we employ a natural process which involves rubbing beeswax and then, once it dries up, we polish them with a soft cloth.

Iron is usually employed to get steel, which is an alloy of iron, carbon and other elements. Iron is the chemical element with 36 as atomic number. Fe is its symbol, which comes from ferrum, the Latin name of this metal. It weighs 7,9gr/cm. There are several formats of sheets on the market, and DMM can process sheets up to 5000x1500 mm and iron tubes up to 6500mm length and 200mm diameter. Sheets and tubes are easy to find.

loader-image

The Latin name for copper – cuprum – comes from the island of Cyprus, the place where this material used to be extracted, due to its large deposits. The chemical symbol comes from its Latin name: CU. Copper is the most ancient metal, second only to gold. Its first use, such as for jewels and ornaments, dates back to 10.000 years ago. This malleable orange-reddish metal has accompanied us along every phase of our evolution.

Copper is a bacteriostatic material, meaning that it fights proliferating bacteria on its surface. It is magnetic and it is an excellent thermal conductor. It is also highly resistant to corrosion, even if not treated, thanks to a natural adherent superficial coat, shifting from brown to green and blue green. Ductile, malleable and robust at the same time, it can be processed into thin wires and low thickness sheets. It is easily processable and recyclable and it is advantageous in terms of benefits and price ratio. It requires a large amount of energy for the fusion and for the following millworks.

Among its processability features, the fiber laser cutting stands out as very easy on copper, both of tubes and sheets. It is easy to bend and to MIG, TIG and autogenous weld. It is easy to polish, even if, once it is polished, it oxidizes quickly.

In the construction industry, it has been used for thousands of years for roof claddings, palaces and churches claddings. In the furniture industry, it is used for kitchen doors, boiserie claddings, decorative inserts, lamps and accessories.

It is possible to obtain a great number of finishes on copper: mechanical, polishing, satin, bush-hammering, hammering, and colored finishes. The latter can be obtained through chemical and mechanical treatments to make the color palette almost unlimited. When used outdoors, copper can be employed without protection; being passivating, its oxidation will protect the material from decline.

Copper is the chemical element with 29 as atomic number. Its specific weight is 8,92gr/cm3. When combined with other materials, it can create various metal alloys (around 400 of them are used): the most common ones are bronze and brass, with tin and zinc, respectively. Its sheet format is limited in width: 1000mm is its standard, and 1250mm is hard to find. As for their length, it goes up to 5000mm.

Alloys

loader-image

COR-TEN steel is a recently born material, which was patented by the United States Steel Corporation in 1933. Its name derives from the main features of the steel: • COR -> Corrosion resistance • TEN -> Tensile strength

Corten steel guarantees very good mechanical performance even after high stress processings (such as deep drawing, bending, welding). Corten steel is completely and endlessly recyclable, easy to restore and environmentally friendly, as it has no polluting varnish. It has a good price-quality ratio, which particularly stands out in the long run, as it does not require maintenance. It requires a reasonable amount of energy for the fusion and for the following millworks.

The fiber laser cutting is very easy on corten steel, both in sheets and tubes and in different thicknesses: it is bendable and TIG or MIG weldable.

Corten steel is often used for its look and its resistance to climate factors, in architecture, construction industry and art, mainly in outdoor sculpture. It is also high-performing mechanically, and it is in fact used where the situation requires high resistance with a small section. It can be used for roof claddings, façades, stairs, handrails, flowerpots etc. In home furniture it is used for items which require a materic and natural finish.

The main peculiarity of corten steel is that it protects itself from electrochemical corrosion thanks to its superficial compact passivating coat: the oxides of the alloying elements prevent the spreading of the corrosion. This film changes in tone over time: at the beginning it is usually light brown, then orange brown and ultimately dark brown, uneven and very materic. The oxidation of corten steel takes up to 6 months, but we can speed it up and shorten it to three weeks, thanks to a particular process in our finishing department, which alternates wet and dry cycles. The product will not require any specific protective treatment if it is meant for the outdoors, whereas for indoor use such as home furniture or public areas, corten steel must be protected with a specific lacquer that blocks the oxide and protects the item from the release of oxide particles.

Its chemical composition is low-alloy steel (iron) with 0,2-0,5% copper, 0,5-1,5% chromium and 0,1-0,2% phosphorus. It weighs 7,9 g/cm3. DMM can process sheets up to 5000x1500mm and iron tubes up to 6500mm length and 200mm diameter: there are several formats of sheets on the market, whereas tubes are not easy to find. For large quantities, they can be purposely built.

loader-image

Homer was one of the first ones to talk about the use of brass in human activity: he used to compare it to Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love. The history of brass also involves the fascinating myth of Atlantis, where there was a “reddish metal”, second only to gold: its name means “golden copper” and it has been known for more than 3000 years. It was used more and more until, during the Middle Age, people started to use it for musical instruments and jewels.

Brass guarantees very good mechanical features, among which resistance to temperatures, down to -250°C. It has got extraordinary antibacterial properties, reason why it is used for bathrooms and high-traffic areas. It is a great electrical conductor, it is great in reducing power consumption, it is malleable and processable. Moreover, it does not lose its original properties when reused. It is one of the most expensive materials, although the advantages completely justify its price. For its processing, it needs less than half the energy required to process the same item in steel.

Brass tubes and sheets are processed with traditional tools, like milling machines and cut-off machines: it can be cut and slotted without restriction with the use of state-of-the-art fiber lasers. At its “semi-raw” physic state it is easily bendable. The TIG, MIG and autogenous welding, followed by the removal of the welding mark, complete the cycle of mechanical processing. It is possible to use standard sheets and tube formats or extruded customized profiles, only after creating the mold.

In the furnishing sector, brass is used for sink tops, doors and claddings of kitchens, chairs, tables and decorative frames; in the construction industry it is used for claddings of villas and palaces, handrails and balustrades, as well as other components that people often touch..

It is possible to obtain a great number of finishes on brass: mechanical, polishing, satin, bush-hammering, hammering, and colored finishes. The latter can be obtained through chemical and mechanical treatments to make the color palette almost unlimited.

Brass is an alloy that is made by melting copper and zinc at a rate of 36 to 45 percent. Its specific weight is 8,9 gr/cm3. Zinc is the material which gives brass the best features. There are more than sixty varieties of brass, which differ depending on the percentage of the main materials, and on other materials that can be integrated. These materials have different features, and they are chosen in accordance with the following use and processing. For instance: manganese and tin increase resistance to corrosion, iron increases breaking load, aluminum increases resistance to corrosion and abrasion. DMM chooses the OT-63 UNI EN:CuZn37CW508L alloy with 62-64% copper and 38-37% zinc (this alloy mixes processability and aesthetic features).

loader-image

Stainless steel was invented in 1872 by the English Woods and Clark who found out that, adding chromium to the usual iron and carbon alloy, the new material was resistant to rust. At the beginning, this alloy was only used for cutlery and gun barrels, but then it started to be modelled and finished for other purposes. A scientist from University College has recently backdated the first forging of this material to the year 1000. In fact, Rahil Alipur found a rough alloy of iron and chromite in an old Persian melting pot, proving that the arm smiths of that time could already make resistant spears. This theory was confirmed by a manuscript of that time, which shows some kind of “recipe” for this alloy and a secret ingredient to add to make steel resistant over time.

Stainless steel guarantees very good mechanical performance, even after high stress processings (such as deep drawing, bending, welding and polishing). It is a hard material, and it is difficult to process with mechanical tools, but easier with molding, bending, and cutting processings, even on high-thickness sheets. It is not easy to satin finish and polish. It is completely and endlessly recyclable, it is a precious, long-lasting, and resistant material. It is quite expensive, but it needs little maintenance, and it does not require lacquering or anti-corrosion treatments. It requires a large amount of energy for the fusion and for the following millworks.

Among its processability features, the fiber laser cutting stands out as very easy on stainless steel, both of tubes and sheets, even in thick ones. It can easily be bended, even if it requires a reasonable amount of power, and it is also easy to TIG and MIG weld, removing then the welding marks. Unlike softer materials, such as brass, copper or aluminum, it is more difficult to satin finish or polish stainless steel. Nevertheless, once polished, it does not decay for a long time. Stainless steels are noble metals, and they are divided into categories, depending on the percentage of materials in the alloy: 304, 316 and 430 stainless steels.

304 stainless steel is the most widely used, for indoor and outdoor purposes: for instance, in kitchens and bathrooms, without any protective lacquer. It is possible to build different items such as kitchen worktops, sinks, doors and backsplashes, tubular frames for kitchens and bathrooms, electric appliances, hoods, tables, and chairs. On the other hand, AISI 316 stainless steel is the most widely used material for building plants and machinery for the food and pharmaceutical industries. It is also used in furniture for hospital, clinics, operating theaters, and medical laboratories. It is also used for marine and naval spaces, pools, and outdoor areas. AISI 430 stainless steel is normally used for items for bars/restaurants, shops furniture, architectural decorative items, parts of electrical appliances, doors. It can’t come in contact with salts and acids; therefore, it is not recommended for kitchens and bathrooms, sea areas, pools. It is resistant to thermal shocks, and it can be used for details of industrial or home ovens.

Being highly resistant, 304 and 316 stainless steels are suitable for every domestic area, especially kitchens and bathrooms, without protection, and outdoor construction industry. AISI 316 stainless steel is also used in marine and naval areas, and in pools. As well as the standard satin and polished finishes, 304 and 316 stainless steels are used to obtain oxidized-looking finishes, such as Peltrox® via electrochemical treatments, and it is suitable for every mechanical processing of the steel sheet, such as bush-hammering and hammering. AISI 430 stainless steel is resistant and suitable for domestic areas, and it does not need to be protected. For kitchens and bathrooms, it is necessary to protect it with specific lacquers, giving it the same resistance as 304 stainless steel. As well as the standard satin and polished finishes, 430 stainless steel is used to obtain oxidized and acid-etched finishes, and it is suitable for every type of mechanical processing of the steel sheet.

AISI 304 and AISI 316 stainless steels are austenitic steels. 304 stainless steel is made of 17 to 19,5% chromium, 8 to 10,5% nickel, 2 to 2,5% molybdenum: the combination of these metals makes this steel rust resistant. It is a nonmagnetic material, so it does not attract magnets. The available sheet formats in width are 1000, 1250 and 1500 mm. As for length, the standard is 3000mm, but they can come up to 5000mm. There are many tubes and plates sections in 304 stainless steel that are up to 6000mm long. UNI EN 10088-1 X5CrNi18-10 JIS (Japan) SUS 304 AISI (USA) 304 AISI 316 stainless steel is made of 16,5 to 18,5% chromium, 10 to 13% nickel, 2 to 2,5% molybdenum: the combination of these metals makes this steel rust resistant. It is a nonmagnetic material, so it does not attract magnets. The available sheet formats in width are 1000, 1250 and 1500 mm. As for length, the standard is 3000mm, but they can come up to 5000mm. On the market, there are tubes of different sections in 316 stainless steel, but they are not always easy to obtain. UNI EN10088-1 X5CrNiMo17-12-2 JIS (Japan) SUS 316 AISI (USA) 316 AISI 430 stainless steel is a ferritic metal. It is currently the most widely used in the world and it is magnetic, so it attracts magnets. It is mainly made of ferrite and of 16 to 18% chromium, making it rust resistant. Its welding is limited because at high temperature weld points, the material is subject to the coarsening of its crystalline grain, though not affecting aesthetic welding marks. Sheet formats are normally 1000, 1250, 1500mm in width. As for their length, 3000mm is their standard, but they can come up to 5000mm. There aren’t available tubes of this material on the market, but they can be built for large quantities. UNI EN 10088-1 X6Cr17 JIS (Japan) SUS 430 AISI (USA) 430 430 stainless steel.

Alloys

loader-image

COR-TEN steel is a recently born material, which was patented by the United States Steel Corporation in 1933. Its name derives from the main features of the steel:
• COR -> Corrosion resistance
• TEN -> Tensile strength

Corten steel guarantees very good mechanical performance even after high stress processings (such as deep drawing, bending, welding). Corten steel is completely and endlessly recyclable, easy to restore and environmentally friendly, as it has no polluting varnish. It has a good price-quality ratio, which particularly stands out in the long run, as it does not require maintenance. It requires a reasonable amount of energy for the fusion and for the following millworks.

The fiber laser cutting is very easy on corten steel, both in sheets and tubes and in different thicknesses: it is bendable and TIG or MIG weldable.

Corten steel is often used for its look and its resistance to climate factors, in architecture, construction industry and art, mainly in outdoor sculpture. It is also high-performing mechanically, and it is in fact used where the situation requires high resistance with a small section. It can be used for roof claddings, façades, stairs, handrails, flowerpots etc. In home furniture it is used for items which require a materic and natural finish.

The main peculiarity of corten steel is that it protects itself from electrochemical corrosion thanks to its superficial compact passivating coat: the oxides of the alloying elements prevent the spreading of the corrosion. This film changes in tone over time: at the beginning it is usually light brown, then orange brown and ultimately dark brown, uneven and very materic. The oxidation of corten steel takes up to 6 months, but we can speed it up and shorten it to three weeks, thanks to a particular process in our finishing department, which alternates wet and dry cycles. The product will not require any specific protective treatment if it is meant for the outdoors, whereas for indoor use such as home furniture or public areas, corten steel must be protected with a specific lacquer that blocks the oxide and protects the item from the release of oxide particles.

Its chemical composition is low-alloy steel (iron) with 0,2-0,5% copper, 0,5-1,5% chromium and 0,1-0,2% phosphorus. It weighs 7,9 g/cm3. DMM can process sheets up to 5000x1500mm and iron tubes up to 6500mm length and 200mm diameter: there are several formats of sheets on the market, whereas tubes are not easy to find. For large quantities, they can be purposely built.

loader-image

Homer was one of the first ones to talk about the use of brass in human activity: he used to compare it to Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love. The history of brass also involves the fascinating myth of Atlantis, where there was a “reddish metal”, second only to gold: its name means “golden copper” and it has been known for more than 3000 years. It was used more and more until, during the Middle Age, people started to use it for musical instruments and jewels.

Brass guarantees very good mechanical features, among which resistance to temperatures, down to -250°C. It has got extraordinary antibacterial properties, reason why it is used for bathrooms and high-traffic areas. It is a great electrical conductor, it is great in reducing power consumption, it is malleable and processable. Moreover, it does not lose its original properties when reused. It is one of the most expensive materials, although the advantages completely justify its price. For its processing, it needs less than half the energy required to process the same item in steel.

Brass tubes and sheets are processed with traditional tools, like milling machines and cut-off machines: it can be cut and slotted without restriction with the use of state-of-the-art fiber lasers. At its “semi-raw” physic state it is easily bendable. The TIG, MIG and autogenous welding, followed by the removal of the welding mark, complete the cycle of mechanical processing. It is possible to use standard sheets and tube formats or extruded customized profiles, only after creating the mold.

In the furnishing sector, brass is used for sink tops, doors and claddings of kitchens, chairs, tables and decorative frames; in the construction industry it is used for claddings of villas and palaces, handrails and balustrades, as well as other components that people often touch.

It is possible to obtain a great number of finishes on brass: mechanical, polishing, satin, bush-hammering, hammering, and colored finishes. The latter can be obtained through chemical and mechanical treatments to make the color palette almost unlimited..

Brass is an alloy that is made by melting copper and zinc at a rate of 36 to 45 percent. Its specific weight is 8,9 gr/cm3. Zinc is the material which gives brass the best features. There are more than sixty varieties of brass, which differ depending on the percentage of the main materials, and on other materials that can be integrated. These materials have different features, and they are chosen in accordance with the following use and processing. For instance: manganese and tin increase resistance to corrosion, iron increases breaking load, aluminum increases resistance to corrosion and abrasion. DMM chooses the OT-63 UNI EN:CuZn37CW508L alloy with 62-64% copper and 38-37% zinc (this alloy mixes processability and aesthetic features).

loader-image

Stainless steel was invented in 1872 by the English Woods and Clark who found out that, adding chromium to the usual iron and carbon alloy, the new material was resistant to rust. At the beginning, this alloy was only used for cutlery and gun barrels, but then it started to be modelled and finished for other purposes. A scientist from University College has recently backdated the first forging of this material to the year 1000. In fact, Rahil Alipur found a rough alloy of iron and chromite in an old Persian melting pot, proving that the arm smiths of that time could already make resistant spears. This theory was confirmed by a manuscript of that time, which shows some kind of “recipe” for this alloy and a secret ingredient to add to make steel resistant over time.

Stainless steel guarantees very good mechanical performance, even after high stress processings (such as deep drawing, bending, welding and polishing). It is a hard material, and it is difficult to process with mechanical tools, but easier with molding, bending, and cutting processings, even on high-thickness sheets. It is not easy to satin finish and polish. It is completely and endlessly recyclable, it is a precious, long-lasting, and resistant material. It is quite expensive, but it needs little maintenance, and it does not require lacquering or anti-corrosion treatments. It requires a large amount of energy for the fusion and for the following millworks.

Among its processability features, the fiber laser cutting stands out as very easy on stainless steel, both of tubes and sheets, even in thick ones. It can easily be bended, even if it requires a reasonable amount of power, and it is also easy to TIG and MIG weld, removing then the welding marks. Unlike softer materials, such as brass, copper or aluminum, it is more difficult to satin finish or polish stainless steel. Nevertheless, once polished, it does not decay for a long time. Stainless steels are noble metals, and they are divided into categories, depending on the percentage of materials in the alloy: 304, 316 and 430 stainless steels.

304 stainless steel is the most widely used, for indoor and outdoor purposes: for instance, in kitchens and bathrooms, without any protective lacquer. It is possible to build different items such as kitchen worktops, sinks, doors and backsplashes, tubular frames for kitchens and bathrooms, electric appliances, hoods, tables, and chairs.
On the other hand, AISI 316 stainless steel is the most widely used material for building plants and machinery for the food and pharmaceutical industries. It is also used in furniture for hospital, clinics, operating theaters, and medical laboratories.
It is also used for marine and naval spaces, pools, and outdoor areas.
AISI 430 stainless steel is normally used for items for bars/restaurants, shops furniture, architectural decorative items, parts of electrical appliances, doors. It can’t come in contact with salts and acids; therefore, it is not recommended for kitchens and bathrooms, sea areas, pools. It is resistant to thermal shocks, and it can be used for details of industrial or home ovens.

Being highly resistant, 304 and 316 stainless steels are suitable for every domestic area, especially kitchens and bathrooms, without protection, and outdoor construction industry. AISI 316 stainless steel is also used in marine and naval areas, and in pools.
As well as the standard satin and polished finishes, 304 and 316 stainless steels are used to obtain oxidized-looking finishes, such as Peltrox® via electrochemical treatments, and it is suitable for every mechanical processing of the steel sheet, such as bush-hammering and hammering.
AISI 430 stainless steel is resistant and suitable for domestic areas, and it does not need to be protected.
For kitchens and bathrooms, it is necessary to protect it with specific lacquers, giving it the same resistance as 304 stainless steel.
As well as the standard satin and polished finishes, 430 stainless steel is used to obtain oxidized and acid-etched finishes, and it is suitable for every type of mechanical processing of the steel sheet.

AISI 304 and AISI 316 stainless steels are austenitic steels.
304 stainless steel is made of 17 to 19,5% chromium, 8 to 10,5% nickel, 2 to 2,5% molybdenum: the combination of these metals makes this steel rust resistant. It is a nonmagnetic material, so it does not attract magnets. The available sheet formats in width are 1000, 1250 and 1500 mm. As for length, the standard is 3000mm, but they can come up to 5000mm. There are many tubes and plates sections in 304 stainless steel that are up to 6000mm long.
UNI EN 10088-1 X5CrNi18-10 JIS (Japan) SUS 304 AISI (USA) 304
AISI 316 stainless steel is made of 16,5 to 18,5% chromium, 10 to 13% nickel, 2 to 2,5% molybdenum: the combination of these metals makes this steel rust resistant. It is a nonmagnetic material, so it does not attract magnets.
The available sheet formats in width are 1000, 1250 and 1500 mm. As for length, the standard is 3000mm, but they can come up to 5000mm. On the market, there are tubes of different sections in 316 stainless steel, but they are not always easy to obtain.
UNI EN10088-1 X5CrNiMo17-12-2 JIS (Japan) SUS 316 AISI (USA) 316
AISI 430 stainless steel is a ferritic metal.
It is currently the most widely used in the world and it is magnetic, so it attracts magnets.
It is mainly made of ferrite and of 16 to 18% chromium, making it rust resistant.
Its welding is limited because at high temperature weld points, the material is subject to the coarsening of its crystalline grain, though not affecting aesthetic welding marks. Sheet formats are normally 1000, 1250, 1500mm in width. As for their length, 3000mm is their standard, but they can come up to 5000mm. There aren’t available tubes of this material on the market, but they can be built for large quantities.
UNI EN 10088-1 X6Cr17 JIS (Japan) SUS 430 AISI (USA) 430 430 stainless steel.

Integrations