Steel is a major component in buildings and tools. Types of steel are a mixture of alloys containing iron and carbon that bind together into a reliable, sold product that is perfect for building everything from skyscrapers to home appliances. Steel’s versatility allows it to cross industries and enter our homes in different forms. You might have asked yourself, “What is steel made of?”. Well, you are about to find out.
What are the Four Types of Steel?
Four types of steel appear in all kinds of items. They have similar characteristics but different properties that make them the best steel to use when dealing with differences in weather, water, or handling chemicals. Of the thirty-five hundred types of steel, they fall into four main categories, each divided into different chemical composition levels.
1. Carbon Steel
Carbon steel represents 90% of all steel production.
The types of carbon steel produced are divided up into three ranges of steel based on the number of elements in the mixture.
Low Carbon Steel
Low Carbon Steel contains up to 0.30 percent of carbon. Low-carbon steel becomes multiple panels and beams with varying levels of the same chemical composition. If the mixture contains aluminum, the percentage of coal will be lower. If more manganese is in steel, the carbon percentage level is higher.
Low-carbon steel, the most common form of steel, is wrought iron. It is considered hardy but also decorative and becomes anything from fencing to decorative lamp posts. The steel is durable though it does not have the refined look of steel with a broader mixture of chemical content.
Medium Carbon Steel
Medium carbon steel is anywhere from 0.31 percent up to 60 percent carbon. A higher range of manganese is also present in a variety of 0.060 percent up to 1.65 percent. The carbon steel produced is more durable but more challenging to work with by cutting or welding. The mixture requires heat to work with it and temper it into the ideal shape.
High Carbon Steel
High Carbon Steel, “carbon tool steel, has a range of carbon of 0.61 percent up to 1.50 percent. The product is tough to work with bend, cut, or welding and requires extreme heat. The final fired product is robust but very brittle to use.
Very High Carbon Steel
Very high-carbon steel is steel with up to two percent carbon. Often called cast iron, the steel is some of the hardest ever made. Very high carbon steel becomes some work tools like unches, knives, and other specialty items. Very high-carbon steel does not have chromium in its chemical mixtures, so it does corrode faster than different types of steel.
2. Alloy Steel
Different types of alloy steel contain trace amounts of elements other than carbon and manganese. The other features include nickel, silicon, titanium, chromium, copper, and aluminum. The variety of features helps create some of the industry’s most reliable and durable steel. The steel produced is economical to produce, refine, and shape for most products.
3. Stainless Steel
Stainless steel comes with a resistance to corrosion through mixing the right combination of elements. Different types of stainless steel come with at least eleven percent chromium, molybdenum, or nickel. A mixture of up to thirty percent is the most common for manufactured products. Stainless steel appears on many cooking utensils, medical instruments, and architecture.
4. Tool Steel
Types of tool steel harden with different comes to become tools. The mixture that makes up tool steel is resistant to breaking and bending and is abrasion-resistant, which makes it perfect for shaping other items or doing a lot of work where you don’t want to break tools or bend them.
Tool steel becomes molds, dies, and hammers for use across industries. It also becomes a knife because it can hold a sharp edge better than other types of steel.
Here are some tips for choosing the correct tool steel.
Main Industries that Use Different Types of Steel
You can find steel everywhere, from inside homes to appliances.
Steel in Building and infrastructure
Most steel manufactured becomes part of buildings. Reinforced bars that become beams and structural supports help skyscrapers climb high; they also find their way into apartment buildings and homes to help support the weight that becomes the final support structure. In addition, to keep, steel becomes the ducts inside the buildings and HVAC systems.
The steel used in each type of project is a different type with a different purpose. Some classes are load-bearing others help control the heating and cooling of the buildings. Still, other kinds become necessary or decorative outer pieces such as railings, bars, or rails.
Steel in Mechanical Equipment
The mechanical equipment used to build buildings, homes, and infrastructures also produces a large amount of steel. Cranes, hand tools, car parts, and other pieces become the main tools in the industry for production.
Steel in Automotive
The automotive industry use steel to create the protective frame your vehicle is sitting on. Steel also becomes many of the critical moving components in the engine and a vehicle’s suspension.
Stell in General Products
Many major appliances and tools used in and around your home are steel, such as your oven, Crockpot, and maybe even your favorite cooking pans. Your hairdryer and parts of your computer are stainless steel, which makes it one of the most flexible metals you can enjoy.
Related article: Medical Steels and their Critical Role in Biomedical Operations
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