The drum is one of the main parts when assembling a washing machine design. Before you choose your machine, it's best to review your options on what it's made of.
Let's take a look at what material is best for a washing machine tank, and why it will do the job better than the rest.
The technology of manufacturing the washing machine tank
To make the drum (its interior), manufacturers use 3 materials:
- stainless steel;
- plastic;
- metal.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is the best choice, because it can handle water all the time, and the account includes its durability. Quite often steel is found in the manufacture of the tank in washing machines. 
Advantages of Steel:
- The tank made of steel is very reliable;
- Durable;
- Quite durable;
- The stainless steel tank will work uninterruptedly.
In addition to the advantages there are also disadvantages:
- Very high level of hum. In stainless steel tanks there is no way to reduce vibration and noisegenerated during the washing process. This causes dissatisfaction among consumers.
- High price. The washing machine with a tank of high-quality stainless steel is not a luxury.
- High power consumption. Drums consume a lot of energy, because steel has low thermal insulation.
Plastic
Plastic, quite often purchased material as a washing machine, also present elements can be made of materials similar to plastic.
There are a large number of advantages:
Price of plastic low;- No noise. If you look at the advertising, your laundry will spin in the drum without any noise, because a material like plastic perfectly absorbs noise and vibration;
- Low power consumption. This occurs due to the excellent thermal insulation. For water use less energy;
- Plastic not can't be not susceptible to corrosionor any exposure to chemicals;
- Pretty lightweight material and the machine itself in general. In case of breakage it is necessary to repair, and to remove the plastic panel is much easier than the metal one.
- Durability (relative). If you compare with the stainless steel material, the product of plastic will definitely be inferior because of its brittleness. But nowadays there are various kinds of developments in this regard, there are new materials that will be used in the construction of washing machines, they are constantly distinguished by their strength and reliability. The service life of such machines is up to thirty years and even more, which is lower than that of stainless steel. But it is enough and such time, because the washing structure itself will already wear out during this time.
There is also a disadvantage, which may override all the advantages:
- The material is brittle.
Major breakages are possible if the plastic washing machine is transported, or if any foreign object appears between the drum and the tank. foreign objectthat can break something. Such breakages can be quite serious, and if they occur, then you will not be able to use such a device.
Plastic is very different in its basic characteristics from other polymers, it has a low price and high brittleness. If you combine the plastic with various other impurities, it will increase the durability and strength. It happens that some products that are made of plastic are not very inferior to steel and hold up well to detergents.
Metal
Washing machines with metal tanks have long since been discontinued. However, if you have one, then you are unspeakably lucky, because they have high reliability, such enameled tanks are also not subject to corrosion, although the weight of such a design is quite large. High durability will not let the unit split in half at high temperatures or transportation, unlike plastic.
If you use such a machine for a long time, the drum may be dented in various ways from any objects accidentally caught in it. With these dents, the enamel will not be able to protect you, it will begin to crumble, become corroded (rusty) and eventually break. If the drum is leaking, it means that it is subject to corrosion of the metal. In this case, a complete replacement of the part (drum) or the whole unit is required.
Conclusion
Before choosing a washing machine, you need to focus your attention on the tank and the device itself, from what materials it is made.
The quality affects the durability in operation. We introduced you in our article to the materials used to make the tank, such as stainless steel, plastic (and other polymers) and metal. The last type is no longer in production, but we have included it in the list as many people still have it installed. Manufacturing companies have stopped producing such units in favor of modern models.
Stainless steel is reliable and long-lasting, but has a very high price. The phenomenon of noise and vibration is present.
Plastic is a very good choice, because it has weight, copes with noise and vibration, it has no corrosion and plastic is not subject to chemical reactions, as well as has a reasonable price. Until now, experts are working to improve this polymer or to create a similar, which will each time more and more reliable and durable. However, brittleness is the only disadvantage that no one has yet coped with.
