Wiha Tools Product Catalogue 2012-2014 - Manual (Page 153)

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305 304
Wiha stainless steel.
For perfect fastening and unfastening.
Stainless steel has become all-
present. Its ascent in the past
decades has been due mainly
to some outstanding qualities:
Durable and versatile
Extremely resilient, corrosion- and
acid-resistant, weather-resistant,
easy to process, hygienic and easy
to clean – a material cannot be
complimented more highly.
Pure
On the one hand this characteristic
reflects the refinement of the high-
alloy composition of stainless steel.
But on the other hand it also bears
witness to its noble appearance
and lordly emanation.
Conserves resources
Stainless steel can be recycled up
to one hundred percent. This spares
natural resources, making this
quality an essential feature not just
for today but for the years ahead.
Essential
All of these qualities have made
non-rusting stainless steel a leading
material for maximum quality
requirements in both the interior
design and building construction
sectors. And in all areas and
dimensions: from a single screw to
a building facade, and from the rivet
of a ship to complete shipbuilding.
Areas with future-fit technologies
such as solar technology would not
be the same without it. Non-rusting
stainless steel also plays a domi-
nant role in sectors such as automo-
tive engineering, the foodstuffs in-
dustry and offshore applications.
Non-rusting
Stainless steel does not inevitably
have to comply with the demands
made upon non-rusting steel.
And likewise, non-rusting steel is
not categorically stainless steel.
Decisive for the definition of stain-
less steel is the alloying component
of the various types, for example
low-alloy or high-alloy stainless
steel. This factor is exactly specified
for each type. One thing's for sure:
a non-rusting stainless steel must
contain at least 10.5% chrome.
But rust can also collect even on
non-rusting stainless steel.
The cause: contact with a "foreign",
i.e. a non-stainless steel tool. This
leaves foreign particles upon the
stainless steel surface that then
rust. This "extraneous rust" is not
only a blemish, but in the form of
pitting can become a real safety
threat.
That's why:
non-rusting stainless
steel needs non-rusting
stainless steel tools.
Only with non-rusting stainless
steel tools is the transfer of foreign
particles and therefore the cause of
rust eliminated.
Passive protects active
The simple trick for long life:
when the chrome surface,
either in air or water, reacts with
oxygen, a wafer-thin protective
layer is created, the so-called
"passive layer". It consistently
repels aggressive substances.
In addition it has the capability
to regenerate ("self-healing").
An additional hardening,
a characteristic of all Wiha
stainless steel tools,
reinforces this characteristic.
It's a question of chemistry:
the stainless steel sortiment
from Wiha.
The popularity of stainless steel can
be seen at the "basis" as well:
since the middle of the 90's, the use
of stainless steel screws has risen
enormously. Here though risk of
extraneous rust is particularly high.
The wide-ranging and versatile
application possibilities for non-
rusting stainless steel or stainless
steel screws today place high
demands upon tools.