Few people in the
world today take the time to stop and consider how much of a role steel plays
in our lives. While it is sometimes easy to miss, the importance of steel
should not be overlooked. It is part of just about everything we do, own, and
see, and forms the backbone of our modern society. Here are just a few reasons
that steel is so integral in everything we build today.
Strength
Steel is one of the
strongest metals on earth, offering an exceptionally high strength-to-weight
ratio. This measurement defines the level of force that can be applied to a
metal, as function of its weight. Steel is a very light metal, but can
withstand significant force, making it very strong in a variety of different
situations. A place like Wasatch Steel in Salt Lake City has a variety of strong
steel beams that can be used in several different applications, from
do-it-yourself home projects to large construction sites.
Because it has such a
high strength-to-weight ratio, buildings that use steel for construction
require less material than more traditional items, such as concrete or wood,
and the lower volume of materials means the overall environmental impact of the
building is reduced. This is especially true for large buildings, such as
skyscrapers, because they would require such a high volume of other building
materials compared to steel that it would have a much larger impact on the
environment.
Versatile
Steel is also one of
the most versatile metals. It is used to make I-beams for structural support in
buildings, and it’s used to make blenders that we put on our kitchen counter at
home. We can put it in roadways to strengthen them and help protect drivers,
and create structures with steel beams that are better able to withstand forces
from earthquakes and other dangerous natural disasters.
Another area where
steel is widely used is in the food and medical industries, because it can have
a smooth surface that is easy to sanitize. We use it for transportation,
processing, and agricultural equipment because it is so strong. We also use it
for several building and decorative projects because it has a pleasing aesthetic
appearance. You can find a wide variety of different steel supplies, types,
shapes, and sizes at a place like Wasatch Steel in Salt Lake City, no matter
what industry you work in and how you want to use the steel.
Environmentally Friendly
Finally, steel is
important in our daily use because it is a very earth-friendly metal. Steel is
one material that can be recycled indefinitely without losing any of its
quality, strength, or hardness. By recycling metals such as steel, fewer raw
materials are used to create new steel, and less energy is used in the production
of steel, meaning fewer CO2 emissions. In fact, since global steel
needs are projected to double by 2050 (according to the International Energy
Agency or IEA), the use of recycled steel, steel surplus, or excess prime like
that available at Wasatch Steel in Salt Lake City will help reduce the
environmental impact of building and manufacturing significantly.
With its abundance,
relative low cost, strength, versatility, and environmental friendliness, steel
has quickly become the backbone of our modern world.
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