Stainless steels are essential materials in numerous industrial sectors due to their corrosion resistance, durability, and versatility. Developed in the early 20th century, stainless steels have revolutionized many applications, particularly in aggressive environments where protection against rust and wear is crucial. Today, stainless steels are used in industries such as chemical, food, aerospace, medical, and construction, where the combination of corrosion resistance, mechanical strength, and machinability is key. Thanks to continuous innovation in treatments and alloys, stainless steels are fundamental in the production of high-performance components and the development of solutions for advanced applications.

Let’s take a look around: almost everything we see is either made of stainless steel or has used it in its production, from the smallest components to everyday objects.

Conventional steels, not produced through powder metallurgy, are among the most widely used materials in industry due to their combination of mechanical strength, ductility, and versatility. These steels, which include carbon alloys and alloy steels, have been developed over centuries and have undergone continuous improvements thanks to research and technological innovations. Today, conventional steels are used in a wide range of applications such as construction, automotive, tooling, and structural production, where the ability to withstand mechanical stresses, as well as machinability, is key. While they do not offer the advanced properties of alloys produced through powder metallurgy, conventional steels continue to be the preferred choice for many applications due to their cost-performance ratio.

Powder Metallurgy (PM), the result of over fifty years of research, has become a fundamental technology for improving the performance of steel alloys. Thanks to a fully integrated production process, Zapp, with its Z-PM series, achieves extraordinary levels of excellence. In conventional steels, it is often necessary to choose between contrasting properties: wear resistance and toughness, toughness and corrosion resistance, corrosion and hardness. Each characteristic tends to compromise the other. The comprehensive Powder Metallurgy process reduces these trade-offs, allowing over 40% of alloying elements to be incorporated into the composition. The result? A steel that combines toughness, wear resistance, and, when necessary, corrosion resistance, offering an advanced solution with the Zapp Z-PM series.