- More temperature resistance: Steel can withstand a wider range of temperatures compared to most commercial plastics. Operating range of steel is -150 F to +1600 F (-101 C to +871 C). Operating range of plastics is -60 F to 250 F (-51 C to +121 C), although there are specialty plastics with a somewhat higher range. Steel can withstand rapid or cyclic temperature fluctuations better than most plastics.
- More corrosion resistance: Stainless steel resists corrosion in atmospheric and pure water environments. High-alloyed stainless steel grades resist corrosion in most acids, alkaline solutions and chlorine environments. Most plastics cannot.
- More versatile: Steel can be coated with plastic to gain the benefits of both products.
- Cleaner: Industrial oils, grease and solvents stain plastic more deeply than steel, harder to keep clean. Stainless steel surfaces are easier to maintain in original appearance.
- Stronger: Steel has greater tensile strength and is more durable. Ventilation holes degrade strength of a plastic washing container more than they do in wire mesh or laser-cut sheet metal.
- Less water absorption: Steel has none; Plastic has some water absorption, depending on the plastic.
- Greater protection against fire: Special high chromium and nickel-alloyed steels resist scaling and retain strength even at high temperatures.
- Less expensive to make: Marlin Steel uses simple forming methods to make steel products. In contrast, most plastics require a custom mold, which incur a high up-front tooling cost, restricting consideration of plastic for only very high volumes.
- Less expensive long-term: When total life cycle costs are considered, including initial tooling, stainless is often a less expensive material option.
- More sustainable: Plastics break down much faster. Most plastics come from petroleum, a non-renewable, often imported resource.
