Here at Filter Sciences, we boast the fact that we proudly use only the best stainless steel in the production of our bag filter housing units. If you have visited us online or delighted in the use of our filter bag housing systems, you have undoubtedly discovered the stainless steel difference. However, there are those instances when people have asked us “what’s the big deal about stainless steel?” and we realized that we have taken for granted that understanding. In today’s post, we offer a side-by-side comparison of carbon steel and stainless steel to help you better understand why stainless steel is the obvious superior steel and why all of our products are proudly made of stainless steel.
At Filter Sciences, we design and manufacture bag filter housing systems for use in a variety of industries. We prefer to use stainless steel due to its anti-corrosive properties that make it ideal for use in industries where liquids are filtered. We are able to design and manufacture any filter bag housing system made from stainless steel, at carbon steel prices!
Both carbon and stainless steel are strong and hardy alloys, created by combining iron and carbon. Both carbon and stainless steels are common metals used where durability and strength are important, including construction, tools, ships, vehicles, machinery, appliances, and weapons. The main differences between carbon steel and stainless steel are in the balance of other elements, including tungsten, chromium, and manganese. Carbon steel, as its name may suggest, has a higher carbon content, which does increase the strength, making it ideal for most construction applications. Stainless steel, on the other hand, has a high chromium content that helps protect the iron from corroding or staining, making stainless steel better for use in most applications. These element compositions make the metals behave differently, with the main differences including corrosion resistance, appearance, and temperature resistance. Let’s talk about these differences in more detail.
Corrosion Resistance
Because steel has a high iron content, it oxidizes when it is exposed to the environment, creating rust and corrosion. Carbon steel does not offer any protection from the iron-oxidizing, so it is prone to rust and staining. Stainless steel contains at least 10%, but generally more than 12% chromium oxide. The chromium oxide more readily attracts oxygen than iron does, which protects the iron from rusting. In damp or wet environments — even moist environments that include normal environmental humidity or condensation — serves to hasten the corrosion process.
Aside from iron rust corrosion, if carbon steel is going to be exposed to harsh or corrosive chemicals, a protective liner should be used to prevent erosion. Stainless steel, however, usually does not require any liners to prevent erosion and can withstand the harshest environments and applications.
It may already seem obvious why understanding these facts would guide your decision to stainless steel when it comes to filter bag housing units. Because the materials that are filtered using a bag filter system are typically liquid, gel, or partially liquid, it stands to reason that carbon steel would not stand the test of moisture exposure. Corrosion creates big problems in terms of the purity of substances and erosion has the potential to leave carbon steel flakes behind. Stainless steel is the alloy of choice in filter bag housing systems.
Temperature Resistance
Stainless steel has one of the best alloy strength and resistance to corrosion at elevated temperatures. Depending on the heat your application requires, stainless steel grade is something you’ll have to consider. This makes stainless steel the preferred material for boilers, water heaters, valves, aircraft and aerospace applications, and any application where high heats are expected — ovens, fire pits, and bag filter housing units. Carbon steel, on the other hand, it has a low resistance to corrosion, especially when heat is included. 
At Filter Sciences, we design and manufacture stainless steel bag filter housing systems for use in many industries. Through our sourcing and manufacturing process, Filter Sciences is able to offer stainless steel bag housings at carbon steel pricing. For all of your filter bag housing needs, contact us for your custom quote.