Performance analysis of padlocks made of different materials

We can use padlocks in many places, and padlocks play a huge role in our security. At present, we mainly use the following materials for padlocks:

1. Iron: Most iron locks on the market are made of cast iron, which is an alloy mainly composed of iron, carbon, and silicon. Due to its low price, it has become the choice of many users. Iron locks have a wide range of applications, from large doors to small drawers and boxes in homes. But iron locks are prone to rusting, so they are not suitable for use in long-term humid environments.

2. Zinc alloy: Zinc alloy is an alloy composed of zinc as the basis and other elements added. Common alloying elements include aluminum, copper, magnesium, cadmium, lead, titanium, etc. Zinc alloy has a low melting point, good castability, and is easy to process, but its hardness is slightly insufficient and its price is higher than iron. Therefore, zinc alloy padlocks are more suitable for daily environmental use.

3. Copper: Most copper locks on the market are made of brass. Brass is an alloy composed of copper and zinc. Brass composed of copper and zinc is called ordinary brass, while multiple alloys composed of two or more elements are called special brass. Brass has strong wear resistance, good thermal and electrical conductivity, but it is expensive. Brass padlocks are suitable for daily environments and some industrial sites.

4. Stainless steel: Currently, the majority of stainless steel padlocks on the market are made of 304 material (national standard grade 06Cr19Ni10), with a small portion made of 316 material (national standard grade 06Cr17Ni12Mo2). 304 stainless steel has good processing performance and high toughness. 304 stainless steel is mainly used in household goods, medical equipment, building materials, chemistry, agriculture, food industry, etc.

316 stainless steel with added molybdenum element has better corrosion resistance, atmospheric corrosion resistance, and high temperature resistance than 304 stainless steel, and its use effect is also better. Widely used in industries such as petroleum and natural gas, marine engineering, and chemical engineering.

Compared with 316 stainless steel, 316L stainless steel (national standard grade 022Cr17Ni12Mo2) has slightly higher molybdenum content and lower carbon content, and has good intergranular corrosion resistance. It is suitable for manufacturing thick section welded parts and equipment, such as corrosion-resistant materials in petrochemical equipment. The relative price of 316L stainless steel is also higher.

At present, the material used for our passive dual channel padlock is 316L stainless steel, which has good high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, and a wider range of applications.