STAINLESS STEEL CABLES

VARIOUS ALLOYS USED

STAINLESS STEEL(18-8 Grade)
Type 302 stainless steel is the standard alloy for cable. It has about the same strength as galvanized aircraft cable and much better corrosion resistance. It has excellent corrosion resistance in most industrial atmospheres, and good corrosion resistance in seawater and marine atmospheres. Type 302 also has very good corrosion resistance to many chemicals including nitric acid.

TYPE 305
Type 305 has better corrosion resistance than Type 302 with 10-15% lower strength. This alloy is primarily used for nonmagnetic cable applications. When sufficiently cold worked, this alloy does not become magnetic.

TYPE 316
Type 316 is the standard high corrosion resistant alloy for cable. It is resistant to many of the chemicals in the paper pulp, photographic, food processing and textile industries. Of the commonly used stainless steels, it has the best pitting resistance in marine use. The breaking strength is 10-15% below Type 302. Excellent scale resistance allows its continuous use at temperatures up to 900 degrees F.

Corrosion Resistance
Chromium in stainless steels is the primary reason for their corrosion resistance. The chrome protects the surface quickly forming an impervious, tenacious oxide film. This acts as a protective barrier against attack. Nickel improves the oxide forming ability of chromium and also gives the stainless steel a broader range of corrosion resistance.

GALVANIZED AIRCRAFT CABLE

CARBON STEEL (Aircraft Cable)
Galvanized cable has the highest strength and greatest fatigue life of the materials offered. It has good to fair corrosion resistance in rural to industrial atmosphere environments. This material is most widely used for small diameter cables. Tin over galvanized cable offers greater corrosion resistance and reduced friction over pulleys.

GALVANIZED IRON (Low Carbon Steel)
This is relatively soft and suitable for light duty applications. Very good for seizing, but not recommended for hoisting or use over pulleys.

NYLON COATED CABLES

The coating of cables with nylon or other plastic offers a number of advantages. It lengthens the life of a cable by protecting the wires from abrasion; it seals in cable lubricant and seals out grit, dirt and moisture. It protects pulleys and drums from abrasion. It also protects hands, clothing, fabrics or other soft materials which may come in contact with or be used in conjunction with cable. Nylon is the strongest and toughest coating material. It is available in  several grades, depending on whether flexibility, toughness, hardness, or outdoor exposure, high or low temperatures or chemical resistance is the primary consideration. Vinyl coatings offer additional advantages. Generally, compared with nylon, they are more flexible, have better resistance to sunlight and are less expensive. Mechanically, however, their uses are somewhat more limited.