Material Science of Ultimate License Plate Frame
Carbon Fiber
Carbon Fiber combines ultra-light weight and super strength properties in a corrosion free product. Typically it is used in exotic race cars, aircraft, spacecraft and high-end bicycles. It has a sleek appearance which can be delivered in matte or glossy finish. Carbon Fiber is a very costly material to fabricate and sometimes fools people into thinking it is a "cheap" product because of how light and malleable it can be.
The StreamlineJK's Carbon Fiber License Plate Frame is made of a material called polyacrylanitrile or PAN fiber (90% of carbon fiber in the world is made from this). The PAN fiber is cooked to extremely high temperatures, which burns off all of the non-carbon material and leaves a series of very thin, long fibers. The fibers are woven into sheets, which look like bolts of fabric, and are then layered together with resin composite within a mold to form the final product. The top layer in the final product showcases the craftsmanship, since linking up the edges of a woven sheet in the mold to create a perfect seam requires significant expertise.
Stainless Steel
StreamlineJK uses only Type 304 Stainless Steel in its Stainless Steel License Plate Frame line of products. Sometimes it may also be referred to as 304 Grade Stainless Steel. This is the most expensive of the commonly used stainless steels. It has the most corrosion resistance capabilities due to its high Chromium and high Nickel content. It is used in many industrial applications but is also typically found in the home in higher priced appliances. It is non-magnetic, is durable and lasts indefinitely in normal conditions.
Other providers who advertise Stainless Steel products typically use Type 201 or Type 430 Stainless. They both cost less but will rust and corrode over time.
Do not be fooled by products made out of Zinc with a Chrome finish, sometimes marketed as "Chrome Plated". While these products are low priced and look great when new, even if there is a pinhole in the chrome plating or a crack from a bump or bend, the product will rust and deteriorate rapidly in normal weather conditions. The addition of salt will accelerate this even more.