Maximizing budget, while minimizing the risk for contamination is a concern shared by all professional laboratory facilities.Type 304 stainless steel continues to be a top choice for laboratories to keep up with FDA regulations and to avoid contamination.
To adhere to strict FDA standards, 304 stainless lab products are specially crafted to abide by Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). GMP is backed by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which requires quality assurance in a lab setting. From corrosive cleaning agents through autoclave, type 304 stainless steel maintains its integrity throughout day-to-day lab processes.
The smoothness of the material also makes cleaning more manageable because it lacks pores and crevasses that may harbor dirt and bacteria. Hand-in-hand with being able to tolerate constant sterilization processes, type 304 stainless steel can withstand wide ranges of temperature and ph.304 stainless steel can maintain structural integrity up to 1598 ° F and chloride content up to 200 mg/L. The lack of corrosion means that these stainless steel units will last, without running the risk of rusting and secondary build-up surrounding oxidation processes.
Rusted elements go against FDA regulations and increase the occurrence of accidents and errors. Stainless steel is also long- lasting and generally cost-effective. The pricing on 304 stainless steel tends to fit in well with most laboratory budgets, even when custom elements are designed and welded. This allows for full control of the work space and allows for customized solutions that help ensure lab members are compliant with SOPs.
What accounts for all of these unique characteristics? The chemical composition of 304 stainless steel is 18% chromium and 8% nickel, with up to 0.07% carbon—limited in percentage or else the steel would risk becoming brittle and less resistant—as well as manganese, iron, and several other elements. This particular combination of metals is what allows stainless steel to be both corrosion-resistant as well as easily formed, because of these properties, 304 stainless steel is well- liked, accounting for over half of stainless steel production worldwide.
Check out our selection of 304 stainless storage solutions.