The Different Types of Steel
The chemical structure of steel fabricator determines its durability and strength. These factors determine which categories of steel to use in different applications. These four foundational types include low carbon, medium carbon, high carbon, and alloy. Each type is suitable for a specific purpose. Let’s take a closer look at each one. Which one is the right choice for your project?
Low carbon
Low carbon steel is a material that does not need heat treatment before use. This steel is forged into angle bar, channel bar, I-beam bar, steel pipe and strip. Low carbon steel is widely used for a variety of construction applications including building components, containers, furnace bodies, agricultural machinery, and more. The low carbon content of low carbon steel results in a high surface temperature and excellent wear resistance.
High-carbon steels are used for cutting tools and other applications that demand a high level of hardness and wear resistance. High carbon steels are also used in the production of tooling and dies. These steels contain additional alloying elements, such as vanadium, chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten. Some of these alloys are used to make carbide compounds.
Medium carbon
Medium carbon steel is a type of steel with a carbon content of 0.30% to 0.60% and a manganese content of 0.6% to 1.65%. It can be used in a variety of applications. This type of steel is often heat treated or quenched and tempered for optimum performance. It is also suitable for machining. It has high tensile strength and ductility, making it an excellent material for structural applications.
Medium carbon steel is a common material for the manufacturing of mechanical components. This type of steel is commonly used for gears, axles, couplings, gears, and other heavy machinery. It is also widely used in the railroad industry. Medium carbon steel with 0.4 to 0.6 percent carbon content is widely used for railway wheels, rails, and axles.
High carbon
According to the American Iron and Steel Institute, high carbon steel is a material with carbon content of between 0.05 and 2.1 percent by weight. These types of steel have a great range of uses, including machining, welding, and building materials. In addition to its structural properties, these materials also provide outstanding corrosion resistance.
Some common uses of high carbon steel include holding up refrigerator doors. The material is also commonly used in dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, and televisions. The versatile material is also used to make cutting tools, high-strength wire, and many other types of equipment.
Alloy steel
Alloy steel is a form of steel that has various elements added to it to enhance its mechanical properties. It is usually divided into two groups, high and low alloy steel. There is some controversy over the difference between the two types. Despite the debate, alloy steels can be used in many applications. They are often used for the construction of bridges, automobile parts, and much more.
Alloy steel is composed of a mixture of carbon steel and other elements to add strength, hardness, and wear resistance to the metal. The most common form of alloy steel is ball stock, which is used for ball bearings in industrial motion applications. Other forms of alloy steel include sheet stock, flats, and bars. Using alloy steel rod stock reduces set-up and prep time.
Stainless steel
Stainless steel is a versatile metal, which has high corrosion resistance and is used in a variety of applications. These include hardware, appliances, surgical instruments, and cookware. It is also used in the aerospace and automotive industries as structural alloys. The main types of stainless steel are ferritic, martensitic, and duplex. Each type has a different magnetic permeability.
The most common stainless steel is type 304. It is composed of 18% chromium and 8% nickel. This stainless steel is highly resistant to corrosion and is non-magnetic. It is also widely used in the foodservice industry for cooking utensils, pots, and flatware.
Galvanized steel
Galvanized steel is a type of steel that has been treated with zinc to prevent rusting. The process is done by immersing the metal parts in a bath of hot, molten zinc. This process ensures that the metal parts won’t rust, and prevents them from corroding.
Today, galvanized steel is used in many building and manufacturing applications. This process allows contractors to keep their projects on schedule and within budget. The coating is easy to inspect with the naked eye and other non-destructive thickness testing techniques are available. Galvanized steel structures don’t need painting or surface preparation, which can save money and time. They are also ready for direct assembly. Moreover, galvanized steel is recyclable, so it can be used again.