How Stainless Steel Was Invented

Stainless Steel is more than just steel that doesn'tideal for a much wider range of products than
stain! It is an umbrella term that covers variousjust rifles, especially goods where staining and
types of steel that are resistant to corrosion.corrosion were big problems. One such product
There are at least two claims to the title ofarea was cutlery. At first Harry's bosses did not
inventor, one from the UK and one from Sweden.see the potential, in fact, not until he personally
The most likely inventor is Harry Brearley, thearranged for a cutler, R.F. Mosley, to produce
son of a steel melter. Harry, who was born insome knives. The manager of Mosley, Ernest
Sheffield in 1871, studied the properties of steelStuart, referred to the knives as "stainless" and
and the effects that various production processesthe term has stuck ever since. Up until the
had on it.In 1908, two large steel firms set up aintroduction of stainless steel, cutlery and other
research company called Brown Firth Laboratoriessteel products had to be constantly cleaned and
and asked Harry to head it up. It's job would bedried thoroughly in order prevent rust
to improve production processes. One of thecorrosion.Ever since, stainless steel has stood for
problems he was asked to solve was the erosionrobustness, longevity and hygiene. A good
of rifle barrels through the effects of heat andexample is the SE22 Insectocutor fly killer
discharge gasses.Brearley's experiments centredmachine. The stainless steel construction
on the addition of chromium and carbon. Steelsrepresents high quality and is particularly
with chromium as an ingredient tended to have aappropriate to such a top range product as this.
higher melting point and this suggested thatInsectocutor has led the way in fly killing
chromium may also produce a more robust andtechnology since the 60's. Inferior plastic products
corrosion-resistant steel. After some trial andhave come and gone but the solid steel machines
error, in 1913 he produced a steel with a 12.8%of Insectocutor have always proved to be
chromium content along with 0.24% carbon.Hesupremely robust and reliable. The use of stainless
subjected the samples that were produced tosteel for models such as the SE22 further
various chemicals, including acid that would corrodedistinguishes the Insectocutor offer compared to
standard steel along with vinegar and citrus juice.the plastic alternatives, such is the quality of
The results were spectacular. Not only was thestainless steel. Thank you Harry!Insectocutor fly
steel resistant to corrosion, it did not evenkillers are sold by
stain.Brearley realised that this new mix would beArkay Hygiene.