Billet Grilles Materials Reference
When it comes to automotive parts, great looks are meaningless if the parts are made from substandard materials. Auto accessories must be built as tough as the vehicles they are piggybacking on, especially exterior trimmings. They need to be able to withstand the near constant exposure to harsh weather, moisture and UV radiation. Plus, they have to have the muscle to endure collisions with kicked-up stones, Texas-sized bugs and other road debris that comes hurtling at you every time you head down the road.
Thankfully, our billet grilles are crafted only from materials that are proven to be rugged, dependable and long-lasting.
The material most widely used in the billet grille industry is aluminum—for good reasons, too. Aluminum is known for its strength, versatility, low-density, durability and resistance to corrosion. Because of its malleability, aluminum can easily be rolled, stamped, drawn, spun, hammered or forged into almost any shape, making it the ideal metal for the automotive and aerospace industries.
While there are 7 different types of aluminum alloy, billet grille manufacturers use either the 5xxx or 6xxx series. The difference between these two types is that they are wrought from different alloy components. 5xxx series aluminum uses magnesium as its principle alloy, which makes it mild to moderately strong, and resistant to corrosion. In the 6xxx series, a mixture of magnesium and silicon are used, producing a higher-strength aluminum with excellent corrosion resistance.
Known the world over for its strength and corrosion resistance, stainless steel is a popular metal used for crafting billet grilles. The reason that it resists rust so successfully is that it has a high chromium content. In fact, for steel to be considered stainless, it needs to have at least a 10.5% chromium content. Plus, stainless steel is incredibly tough, resilient and easily fashioned into a multitude of forms and shapes.
Just like the aluminum, there are two types of stainless steel used in billet grilles. The more economical of the two, 409 series stainless steel, is commonly used for many different automotive accessories because of its sturdiness. The other type of stainless steel, 304, is another popular automotive metal. It has a higher chromium content for the ultimate in corrosion resistance. You�ll find stainless steel used in billet grilles made by Nasta and Stull Industries.
The most cost effective billet grille material available is the ABS Plastic. Widely used across the entire automobile accessories spectrum, ABS Plastic is a lightweight, rigid and durable thermoplastic material. While it is not as strong as stainless steel or aluminum, ABS Plastic still makes an excellent medium for building billet grilles because the plastic is impervious to rust and quite durable. For added customization, it can usually be painted to match or accent your stock paint. For high quality ABS billet grilles, turn to RDX, Street Scene and Stull Industries.