Aluminum or stainless steel in public transportation?

• Oct 18, 2002

• #2

etch

Mechanical

May 8, 2002

169

From memory, i think its mainly Aluminium, We used to recieve scrap tubing from large bus fitters, and it was generally aluminium with approx 0.5%mg and pretty pure otherwise typically HE30 grade. I am sure it will have some protective coating on it, the material we recieved either had a plastic coating or was coated.

 

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• Oct 18, 2002

• #3

mcguire

Materials

Nov 2, 2001

1,086

Most grab rails are 304 stainless with a brushed( abraded) finish. Aluminum tarnishes a bit too easily to work well.

 

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• Oct 18, 2002

• #4

IRstuff

Aerospace

Jun 3, 2002

44,763

It just depends on what part of the vehicle you're looking at. Most of the painted surfaces can and are readily built from aluminum.

Unpainted metal tends to be mostly stainless, from both an esthetic and practical perspective. Aluminum handrails just wouldn't have that nice smoooooth feel. Likewise for nice shiiiiny kick panels.

The only place I've seen bare aluminum is around moldings and windowframes.

TTFN

 

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• Oct 21, 2002

• #5

etch

Mechanical

May 8, 2002

169

I dont know what kick plates are, ut i think they are like chequre plate here in uk, and this is made from aluminium, with about 3%Mg

 

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• Oct 21, 2002

• Thread starter
• #6

vicbee

Materials

Aug 8, 2002

35

I see... so what will it be? I live in Hong Kong where the subway is quite modern. Brushed whatever it is is used for hand rail and panels wherever there is lots of contact with people. It's the same in the Singapore subway, or in the San Francisco's Bay Area BART system. I thought it might be stainless steel because, as TTFN says, of its smooth feel and platinum like appearance... then again if I ask it is because I have no idea...

 

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• Oct 22, 2002

• #7

mcguire

Materials

Nov 2, 2001

1,086

In the USA the choice would always be stainless.

 

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• Oct 28, 2002

• #8

Ron

Structural

Sep 24, 1999

16,336

vicbee...one easy way to tell is to scratch it with a knife (in an inconspicuous location and manner!). Stainless steel will scratch but will not gouge under moderate pressure. Aluminum will gouge under a steel knife.

Further, the stainless steel might be slightly magnetic, though not likely. You can try checking with a magnet, but the scratch test certainly works.

I would bet that it is stainless steel.

 

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• Nov 3, 2002

• Thread starter
• #9

vicbee

Materials

Aug 8, 2002

35

I managed to get the answer from the horse's mouth and it is confirmed: stainless steel. Thanks all for your feedback!

 

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