The Role of Steel and Stainless Steel in Electronic Product Design and Development
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Steel and stainless steel remain among the most versatile engineering materials employed in the housing, structural support, thermal regulation and electromagnetic protection of electronic products, yet their contribution to electronic product design and development (EPDD) is frequently subsumed under broader discussions of aluminium, polymers and composite materials in the design literature. This manuscript undertakes a systematic narrative review of contemporary (2017-2026) scholarship and technical literature to reconstruct and interrogate the role that carbon steel and stainless-steel alloys (principally the 300 and 400 series) play across the electronic product development lifecycle, from conceptual material screening through to manufacturing, structural assembly, thermal and electromagnetic-compatibility engineering, and end-of-life recovery. Using Ashby-based materials selection theory as an analytical lens, the review synthesises evidence from materials science, electronics packaging, sustainability and industrial design literatures to examine six thematic domains: structural and mechanical performance, corrosion resistance and environmental durability, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, thermal management, additive and subtractive manufacturability, and circular-economy sustainability. Findings indicate that stainless steel, particularly grades 304 and 316L, offers a distinctive combination of tensile strength, corrosion resistance, EMI attenuation and premium aesthetic finish that has driven its adoption in flagship consumer electronics housings, telecommunications cabinets, industrial control enclosures and, increasingly, additively manufactured thermal management components, while carbon and galvanised steel continue to dominate cost-sensitive enclosure and chassis applications. The review further establishes that steel's near-complete and energy-efficient recyclability positions it favourably within circular-economy imperatives now shaping electronic product design in both industrialised and developing economies. The manuscript concludes that a more deliberate, standards-referenced integration of steel and stainless steel into electronic product design curricula and practice, particularly within resource-constrained manufacturing contexts such as Nigeria, would strengthen product durability, reduce electronic waste burdens and support local fabrication capacity. Recommendations for design practitioners, engineering educators and policymakers are advanced, alongside directions for future empirical and comparative research.
Institution: Akwa Ibom State University
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7219748887
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