Steel has played a vital role in the development of modern society. Iron and steel should not be mistaken. Steel is used to make steel as the base metal. We overcame the ductility of the iron with the invention of steel and gained a strong metal to meet our needs.
Steel is an iron alloy, made up of carbon content ranging from 0.03% to 1.075%, and often other elements. It has strong tensile strength and low cost, making it a major element of housing, transportation, equipment, boats, vehicles, computers, appliances, and weapons manufacturing. It is one of the world’s most well-known products, with a production industry approaching 1.3 billion tons per year.
Types of Steel
Steel can be classified into 4 types mainly.
- Carbon Steel
- Alloy steel
- Stainless Steel
- Tool Steel
- They are discussed below
Carbon Steel
Carbon Steel can be divided into three main categories
- Low carbon steel (known as mild steel)
- Medium carbon steel
- High carbon steel.
Alloy Steel
Alloy steel consists, in addition to carbon, of small quantities of one or more alloying elements such as aluminum, manganese, silicon, nickel, titanium, chromium, copper. It adds many unique properties, such as toughness, hardness preservation, and corrosion resistance, which are not found in standard carbon steel. Alloy steels are more responsive to heat and mechanical operations in comparison to carbon steels.
- As they are inexpensive, widely accessible, quickly processable and have good mechanical properties, alloy steels are extremely important for industries.
- Alloy steel pipes exhibit excellent performance. They have high-scale oil and gas drilling applications.
- Alloy steels are also used as components of high-pressure machines.
Stainless Steel
It is an alloy of steel with a chromium value of at least 11.5 wt. Even though stainless are still not evidence of corrosion, they do not rust and corrode as quickly as their other equivalents. In many items, Stainless steel is used, but mostly in home appliances and utensils for cooking.
- Reduced stainless parts production period due to lack of finishing criteria.
- Even at high temperatures, it maintains power and shock tolerance.
- Due to the flat and minimally brittle layer, hygienic.
- Great resistance to fatigue and damage helps the steel last a long time
Tool Steel
Tool steels are alloys with various amounts of vanadium, cobalt, tungsten, and molybdenum, rendering them extremely robust and heat-resistant.
They are named as being used to make metal tools such as tools for cutting, pressing, extruding and mold making. Its strength comes from its increased resistance to deformation, enhanced toughness, and willingness to be used even at high temperatures as a cutting edge. This is why tool steels are a perfect match for the shaping of other materials.