As the foundation of heavy equipment, tools, and household items steel plays a crucial role in manufacturing and construction. Steel isn’t all the same. The kind of steel you select can affect the strength and durability of your project.
The amount of impurities or additions determines the classification. This is what makes each type unique to its specific application.
Low-carbon steels are the most commonly used types of steel employed by metal fabricators and they come in a variety. You can find them in beams, pipes, and other structural components. They are also suitable for fabrications using welded elements, since they are able to be easily shaped and formed without losing strength or quality.
Medium-carbon steels have less than 1.75% carbon content and are well-known for their toughness. They are the best choice for cookware as well as durable tools. They’re also used to fabricate car parts and other mechanical equipment.
High-carbon steels have more than 1.7% carbon and are commonly used in components that require exceptional strength and resistance to corrosion. These include anchor bolts, tools, and rods.
Alloy steels possess a broad variety of properties that can be modified to meet the requirements of each application. For instance, tungsten can improve the strength of temperature and wear resistance of high-strength steels. Chromium increases the ductility of stainless steels as well as increases their resistance to heat. Molybdenum on the other hand, improves the hardness and toughness of alloy steels.