[Animats]

There's a lot to be said for stainless steel. But look at the price of chromium.

[function_seven]

Right. I guess a replacement alloy would be the best bet. No matter how cheap your improved process is, the input costs are still there.

Or an improved process for extracting and refining chromium itself. Aside from cost, I think it’s a dirty process as well?

[kortex]

Yeah, chromium and nickel, two of the chief components that put the stainless in stainless-steel, are rather toxic in most/all oxidation states (Cr3+ is weirdly biologically necessary but toxic in high doses). Their refining process is pretty nasty too - lots of cyanide / carbonyl (monoxide) complexes, and mining is just generally filthy.

Automation and cheaper electricity would drive down the cost of recovering metals from aqueous waste.