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WHY FRANKE STAINLESS STEEL SINKS
What Puts The “Luxury” In Franke Luxury Stainless Steel:
Why It Makes A Better Sink
Seventy percent of sinks are made of stainless steel. As the
world’s largest purchaser of stainless steel, Franke has its choice
of the best raw materials. But that is only the beginning of the
evolution from fine to Franke. By lavishing this material with cost,
care and craftsmanship, Franke creates a stainless steel that is
“uncommon.” Let us tell you about the choices, the processes and
the skills that Franke invests to raise its stainless steel systems to the
quality, beauty and longevity its discerning customers deserve.
The “Why” of Stainless Steel
The reasons almost 70% of all sinks are stainless steel:
• Does not alter the essence and flavor of food
• Surface is easy to clean
• Requires very little upkeep
• 100% recyclable, making it right for today’s environmentally
conscious world
• Resists corrosion and has hygienic and aseptic properties
• Does not require the labor-intensive application of an added
surface treatment
The “What” of Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is an alloy of iron, chromium and nickel, generated
to create advantages that individual pure metals do not offer. So
it’s a whole greater than the sum of its parts. The name refers to
the rust resistant properties of the metal which is “stain-less,” but
not “stain-proof.”
These are its ingredients:
• Austenite is a nonmagnetic solid solution of carbon in iron,
used in making corrosion-resistant steel of the kind used for
making cutlery, hospital and food-service equipment, and
tableware.
• Chromium (Cr) is a hard, malleable, glossy, gray chemical
element with no odor or taste, used in alloys to give them
corrosion resistance and a glistening look. It is most responsible
for the corrosion resistance of stainless steel.
• Nickel (Ni) is a hard, ductile, silvery-white chemical element,
a high-luster metal with a high level of corrosion resistance.
• Passivation Layer -- When stainless steel contains a sufficient
amount of chromium, a hard, invisible, virtually impenetrable film
of chromium oxide forms on the surface. Although only a few
atoms thick, this prevents further surface corrosion when the
stainless steel is exposed to corrosive materials and prevents
any corrosion from spreading into the metal's internal structure.
By definition, stainless steel resists corrosion, the gradual
degradation of a metal or alloy especially by oxidation or
chemical reaction (Gold, platinum and palladium are the only
metals not subject to corrosion). But the level of corrosion
resistance varies, based on factors in manufacturing:
• Chemical composition of the metal
• Temperature and temperature variations
• Oxygen content and exposure to oxygen
Even slight variations in chemical compositions result in wide
variation in quality. In other words, NOT ALL STAINLESS STEEL
IS CREATED EQUAL.
There are several different types and many different grades of
stainless steel, so to deserve its “luxury” designation, Franke
insists on creating and maintaining “differences that make
a difference to you.”
Gauge of Franke Stainless Steel
“Gauge” describes the thickness of the sheet of stainless steel on a
scale from 8 to 30, the lower the number, the thicker the sheet of
stainless steel. Gauge is a significant factor because a heavier gauge
can help prevent denting and bowing. It also contributes to noise
reduction from garbage disposals and items making contact with
the sink. That doesn’t mean though that thicker is always better.
For instance, the thicker the gauge, the more difficult (and at times
impossible) it is to “deep draw,” or craft from a single sheet to
reduce welding marks during manufacturing. So, Franke carefully
selects the proper gauge, best fitted to the manufacturing processes.
• Franke full-size deep drawn sinks are 16 or 18 gauge
• Franke full-size hand fabricated sinks are 16 gauge
• Franke’s smaller accessory bowls are 18 or 20 gauge
Grade of Franke Stainless Steel
The three most common grades available in stainless steel sheet
metal are: 304, 316 and 410. Grade 304 is made up of at least 8%
nickel (Franke’s contains 10%). It is the most frequently used of
the three grades, valued for its ability to provide corrosion resistance
and to maintain the capacity of the sheet metal to be bent, welded,
stamped and/or drawn. Franke relies on these properties to
achieve the elegance and detail of its designs.
Franke’s Standards for “Uncommon” Stainless Steel
Franke insists on an alloy of 18% chromium and 10% nickel
content by mass. This higher nickel and chromium content
provides a level of corrosion resistance and integrity that is
superior to any other category of stainless.
Franke stainless steel is ductile, meaning that it is malleable
(moldable). This ensures that it can be formed without cracking or
breaking into parts.
Franke insists that its stainless steel be nickel-rich because when
nickel is added, the Austenite structure of iron is preserved. This
crystal formation makes such steels non-magnetic and less delicate
at low temperatures. And it further contributes to the corrosion
resistance.