Stainless Steel

   Contains a minimum of 11% chromium

   Is a ferrous alloy (contains iron)

   Usually magnetic

   High tensile strength

Stainless steel comes in a variety of grades. The grades are classified by a series number and assigned a numerical grade. The numbers classify the grades of steel based on their composition, physical properties, and applications. The most popular grades are 304 stainless steel and 316 stainless steel.

Aluminum

   Non-magnetic

   Low density

   Non-ferrous alloy (doesn’t contain iron)

Due to its low tensile strength, aluminum is commonly alloyed with other metals to give it a number of different superior properties. Some of the most common aluminum alloys are 3003 aluminum and 3004 aluminum.