Two Common Metals That Are Used In Desks

14 February 2019
 Categories: , Blog


Study desks are created from a range of materials: wood, glass, plastics, and also metals. Sometimes two or three of these are combined together to make up the different components. Legs are oftentimes constructed from some kind of metal, as are handles. So what metals are common to desks?

Aluminium

One type of metal that can play a role in the structure is aluminium. This is made by mining bauxite, found in the earth's crust, then producing alumina from that. The alumina is combined with other elements and refined into aluminium. Aluminium is an ideal material for desks. It's lightweight, which can help with room-rearranging for when you want a change. Other qualities are its durability and anti-corrosiveness. When exposed to oxygen, aluminium develops a layer of aluminium oxide that naturally protects it from rusting. Other elements in the alloy increase its strength. 

Aluminium legs and hardware are often finished in colours to complement the rest of the desk. Powder coating is a typical process used. This involves spraying the metal with fine particles of resin and pigment before fusing it in an oven to create a smooth and tough finish.

Stainless Steel

Another metal that might be found somewhere within a whole desk design is stainless steel. This metal is an alloy, or combination, of several elements including iron, carbon and chromium. The mixture varies depending on its intended application. Extra sturdy steel used for building construction, for instance, includes other elements to toughen it. As a whole, however, stainless steel is exceptionally durable and non-corrosive (the chromium prevents rusting). It can be heavier than aluminium, but this does depend on the steel's thickness or gauge. 

The steel on a study desk might be finished in several ways. It can, like aluminium, be powder coated a range of colours for a sleek, long-lasting finish. Alternatively, steel can be buffed and polished for different shine effects. A mirror-like surface can be produced through a sanding process beginning with coarse sandpaper and then progressing to finer and finer paper. For a less polished finish, a satin look, for example, you simply stop the sanding at an earlier point. A brushed matte finish has undergone the least buffing and polishing with the coarser sandpapers.

Metals do make beautiful desks, particularly when combined with other substances such as glass or timber. Metal and glass combinations produce svelte designs that match both modern and traditional homes. And timber and metal combinations can create a clean modern look or else evoke an industrial vibe, depending on the overall design.


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