Metal furniture is popular, whether at home, in the park, in the restaurant, or from the coffee table to the chair, from the cabinet to the dining table, from the bed to the dresser; it is everywhere!
As a furniture manufacturer, we have made many types of metal furniture. Sharing with you five common metal types for making furniture we have been used.
Aluminum
Aluminum furniture attracts consumers for its durability, corrosion resistance, and relatively low price. It can be used as indoor and outdoor furniture， such as benches, folding chairs, swings, molder chairs, etc. Read on to learn more about aluminum furniture.
Corrosion resistance
Furniture requires long-term use. If rusted, it affects its beauty and shortens its service life. But aluminum’s corrosion resistance is very good; it reacts with oxygen in the air to produce a layer of aluminum oxide. This layer is thin, only one ten-thousandth of a millimeter thick, but it is very hard and wear-resistant.
The aluminum oxide sticks on the surface of the aluminum, isolating the inner layer from the outside and avoiding rusting
Multi-functionality
Aluminum is flexible to make different shapes, which meets the demand of different designs and styles. While commonly used to make furniture with three types: cast aluminum (solid), stamped aluminum (hollow), and aluminum tube (hollow).
Stamped aluminum and cast aluminum can be used for mass production, such as molded chairs, furniture accessories, furniture legs, etc.
Durable and low maintenance
Aluminum furniture is durable and corrosion-resistant. It does not require complex maintenance. With simple, regular maintenance and care, aluminum furniture can last a long time; it ages very slowly and has an average life expectancy of between 15 and 20 years.
Lightweight
Aluminum is a lightweight material. Of the same strength, aluminum is 35% to 45% lighter than steel, which is relatively easy to move. However, lightness also is its disadvantage: aluminum is not suitable for use in areas with strong winds.
Aluminum is not only light but also a little bit soft; it must be thicker than steel to get the same strength. Therefore, aluminum is not recommended for places with strong load-bearing needs.
Iron
Compared to stainless steel, iron is less costly and known for its durability and long last. It applies to commercial and residential furniture, especially popular in the use of outdoor furniture, which is the first choice material for garden furniture. There are two main types of iron in the use of furniture: cast iron and wrought iron.
Cast iron is an iron-carbon alloy with more than 2% carbon content. It is ductile, can be molded into different shapes, and is commonly used to make chairs in parks and neighborhoods.
Wrought iron is made of more than 99% iron and very low carbon（less than 0.15%）, which is strong and load-bearing and commonly used to make patio tables for restaurants, bars, and cafes.
Iron Rust
Rust is the most common problem people face with iron furniture. Water and oxygen are the main triggers, and iron(without any preventive protection) will rust when it is exposed to air or moisture. Rusted furniture becomes ugly, which is the major concern when purchasing iron furniture. Fortunately, taking simple prevents can decline the risk.
How to prevent rusting of iron furniture？
Nowadays, many iron furniture is treated with protective rust proofing, which separates the surface of iron from air and water to help to reduce this risk.
1. Galvanizing: apply a zinc layer to the iron’s surface. The zinc layer acts as a barrier between the iron and its surroundings, helping to extend its life.
2. Surface plating nickel or chromium: the same principle as galvanizing, a layer of plating separates the iron from its surroundings. As nickel and chromium do not contain iron, they won’t react with oxygen to rust. This is a more complex anti-corrosion treatment, but it effectively protects iron from rusting.
3. Paint: washed and chemically treated the iron furniture first, then appled a protective coating to its base. But if there is only a layer of protective paint, it will not last as long as galvanizing and nickel. Adding a thick layer of polyurethane powder coating is better for the rust-prevention effect to last longer.
Carbon steel
Carbon steel includes low-carbon steel, medium-carbon steel, and high-carbon steel. And most of the carbon steels used in furniture are low-carbon steels, which with low-cost properties, high plasticity, and good workability. So here we mainly talk about the use of low-carbon steel in furniture.
High flexibility
Carbon steel is flexible and contains about 0.05-0.30% carbon, which makes it suitable for various processes such as forging, welding, and cutting in furniture production and easy to produce.
Low-carbon steel has better flexibility than high-carbon steel， which is stronger but brittle. High-carbon steel tends to crack when it meets extreme tensile stress, but low-carbon steel tends to warp, which can be adapted to different furniture styling needs.
Lower corrosion resistance than stainless steel
Carbon steel only contains a little chromium, while stainless steel contains at least 10.5%. Chromium reacts with oxygen to form a passivation layer that protects the steel from corrosion. Lower chromium means lower corrosion-resistant. As a result, carbon steel is more likely to rust and be corroded than stainless steel.
Stainless steel
As a high-end furniture manufacturer, stainless steel is one of the materials we use most frequently. More than 60% of our contemporary furniture is made of stainless steel. Read on to see why we love stainless steel so much.
High ductility
Stainless steel is strong and ductile, making it ideal for furniture production needs: cutting, welding, polishing, grinding, painting, and plating, which also can be hammered, bent, or pressed without breaking or cracking.
Resistance to rust and corrosion
The oxidation resistance of stainless steel comes from chromium, and standard stainless steel requires a minimum of 10.5% chromium or more. When stainless steel is exposed to air, chromium combines with oxygen to form a stable chromium oxide passivation layer. The passivation layer protects the interior of the stainless steel from oxidation. Moreover, chromium oxide passivation will quickly re-form if the surface is scratched.
Each grade of stainless steel contains a different percentage of chromium; higher grade contains more chromium and provides more corrosion-resistant.
Beautiful appearance
Unlike iron, aluminum, and other metals, stainless steel is born with its metallic gloss-silver color. In addition, stainless steel can be electroplated, sprayed, and water plated to get various colors: gold, rose gold, champagne gold, black, brown, bronze, red, etc.
After simple processing, it can be made into different surface finishes, such as brushed, polished, sandblasted, antique, etc.
Brass
Brass is one of the main raw materials in our luxury furniture collection. It is no doubt that brass also is one of the most expensive materials we use; its cost is directly linked to the weight and the production requirements. Heavier brass is used in furniture; the more complex the process, the higher the cost.
Excellent ductility
Brass is an alloy metal made of copper and zinc, which can be easily shaped and bent into various designs. It is suitable for sand casting, wax casting, and other melt molding processes, and can be made into unique shapes, complex carvings, special textures, and patterns. The unique style of brass furniture distinguishes it from traditional metal furniture.
Not hard enough
Compared with other metals, brass is relatively soft. With the same specifications, brass is weaker than stainless steel. If the loading is too heavy, the brass may be warped.
During high-temperature baking production, brass might also be slightly warped. Furthermore, brass may have dents and scratches in any hard objects knocking or whacking.
