What type of metal is often associated with channel formation?

Channel formation in metals refers to the process where material flows or deforms in a way that creates channels, often as a result of stress or strain during manufacturing or usage. Steel is particularly known for its susceptibility to channel formation due to its physical properties, such as ductility, strength, and ability to undergo plastic deformation under load.

Steel is commonly used in various structural applications, making it more likely to encounter conditions that promote channel formation, especially under mechanical stress or during processes like welding and fabrication.

While other metals like aluminum and copper can also exhibit channel formation, steel’s widespread use and the significant stresses it often experiences in construction and other applications make it the most associated metal with this phenomenon. On the other hand, plastics generally do not form channels in the same way that metals do, since they behave differently under stress and are not classified as metals at all.