Outdoor Enclosures

Stainless steel offers excellent corrosion resistance, particularly when it contains elements like chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni), which form a passive film on the surface to prevent rusting. The surface of stainless steel enclosures is smooth and easy to clean.We can also apply a coating to stainless steel to achieve even better corrosion resistance.

Galvanized Steel is a material with a zinc coating on its surface to prevent the underlying steel from rusting. The zinc layer protects the steel by undergoing sacrificial corrosion. It is suitable for general industrial environments and outdoor applications with moderate corrosion, especially where it does not directly encounter salt spray or chemicals. It is more affordable than stainless steel, offering a higher cost-performance ratio. In harsher environments, an additional protective coating is usually required.

Aluminum alloy has natural corrosion resistance because when exposed to air, it quickly forms a thin layer of aluminum oxide on the surface, which protects it from further corrosion. It is suitable for moderate corrosion environments and applications requiring lightweight materials, such as mobile equipment enclosures and communication cabinets. However, compared to steel, aluminum alloy has lower strength and impact resistance. It also has natural RF shielding properties, which can block electromagnetic radiation from penetrating the material, making it unsuitable for devices with internal antennas. Durability can be enhanced through coating and anodizing, with anodizing offering better corrosion resistance than coating.

Carbon steel has high strength but poor corrosion resistance, typically requiring surface treatments to improve its durability in outdoor environments. It is suitable for low-corrosion environments, offering low cost and high strength. However, it must undergo anti-corrosion treatments such as coating, galvanizing, or powder coating before use. If your application demands extreme corrosion resistance and it’s not feasible to periodically reapply an anti-corrosion coating, carbon steel may not be the right choice.

If at any point you feel unsure about the protection level，give our friendly sales team a call. They are expert  who will be delighted to give you all the help you need to make a suitable choice for your  business.

Before choosing a material, it’s important to think about the material qualities that your application requires.

• What kind of weather conditions (such as snow, rain or sleet) will your device encounter?  
• Will your device need to withstand corrosion from salt water or chemicals?
• What kind of aesthetic appearance should your device have?
• Will your device feature an internal wireless antenna that needs to transmit radio frequency signals?
• Will your device require EMI/RF shielding?
• Will your device be potentially subject to heavy impacts?
• Will your device need machined cutouts on its enclosure?
• What kind of ingress protection rating (such as a NEMA rating or IP rating) will your device need to have?