People have been experimenting with metal alloys for thousands of years. While examples of iron smelting can be found as far back as 1800 B.C., the introduction 

of crucible steel goes as far back as 300 B.C.

Stainless steel is a very versatile material. Through the years, engineers have experimented with the production of alloys.

By adding and removing certain metals, they were able to produce different types of stainless steel with different characteristics and applications. For example, 

it is used in everything from the production of kitchen utensils to components for construction projects and products as simple as stainless steel balls.