Stainless steel is a preferred material when it comes to wire rope. It meets a number of industrial applications because it is versatile, strong, and corrosion-resistant. It is also cost effective in supplying a wide range of products, from Space Shuttle components to surgical instruments.

Steel is an alloy of iron that contains a minimum of 10.5 percent chromium. A larger percentage of chromium in the steel means more resistance to corrosion. Among the five categories of stainless steel, the most common for high-quality wire rope is the austenitic type, which offers the most corrosion-resistance.

The wire used for mechanical cable applications is usually an alloy of 304 or 316 alloy. While 304 is the standard in the United States, 316 stainless steel is standard in many other countries. However, many projects use whatever is dictated by the project-specific needs.

Wire load tolerance changes dramatically with thickness. For instance, a 1/32-inch diameter 304 wire offers a breaking strength of 115 pounds while a 1/2-inch diameter 304 wire has the breaking strength of 30,000 pounds. At 1/8-inch diameter, stainless steel 316 has a breaking strength of 1,780 pounds, and 27,000 pounds at 1/2-inch diameter.

A reputable stainless steel wire manufacturer or distributor should be able to walk you through available options. They can help you make a selection based on your budget and necessary factors such as resistance to corrosion, tight tolerance, flexibility, and rigidity.