Commercial and residential buildings, bridges, viaducts — these are the main types of structures where concrete is commonly used. Most of them are large-scale constructions in which the quality of reinforcement has a huge impact on their durability. Investors most often choose carbon steel, primarily because of its lower material costs. However, at the INOX Polska steel center, we have several convincing arguments in favor of using stainless steel bars.
Stainless steel reinforcement ensures lower maintenance costs for keeping the structure in good condition
What is the reason behind this? Above all, it comes down to the specific properties of the material. Over time, concrete “matures”: its pH value decreases due to carbonation, and as alkalinity drops, the concrete cover stops forming protective reactions with carbon steel. Inside the structure, oxygen will always be present, and humidity levels will gradually rise — due to rainfall and capillary moisture uptake from the ground. Corroding reinforcement causes the concrete to deteriorate mechanically over time. Small cracks and fractures appear first, and without timely intervention and repairs, they can lead to internal structural damage. By using stainless steel bars made of the proper steel grade, such problems can be avoided. There will be no need for costly repairs to be carried out so frequently. It is also worth emphasizing the resistance of INOX Polska’s steel grades to chlorides, which penetrate the structure of buildings located near the sea or heavily salted roads.
Thanks to unmatched corrosion resistance, stainless steel bars are the ideal choice for long-lasting structures
Many construction industry experts point to the latter parameter as the one that should determine the choice of steel reinforcement grade. The CCTL value defines the critical chloride concentration level in concrete, beyond which corrosion begins. For carbon steel, the Critical Chloride Threshold Level is approximately 0.4%. In contrast, high-grade stainless steel bars made of austenitic Cr-Ni steel type 1.14301 can withstand much higher chloride concentrations in the concrete mass. If the structure being erected is designed to bear heavy loads and the expected service life is measured in decades, it is worth selecting a material with enhanced mechanical properties. One such material is the ferritic-austenitic duplex steel 1.4162 (lean duplex). We encourage you to send inquiries — the representatives of INOX Polska will be happy to explain the properties of each steel grade used to manufacture stainless steel bars for reinforcing concrete structures.
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