Steel is the backbone for heavy equipment, household items and tools. It plays a major role in construction and manufacturing. However, not all steels are created equal; the kind of steel you pick for a project can dramatically influence its strength and durability.
While all steels start as iron and carbon the amount of impurities and other additions determine how each one is classified. This is what makes every type unique for specific application.
Low-carbon steels are among the most commonly used types of steel used by metal fabricators, and come in a variety of forms. They can be found in beams, pipes and other structural components. They’re also great for welding fabrications due to their ability to be easily shaped and formed without compromising strength or quality.
Medium-carbon steels contain less than 1.75 percent carbon content, and are recognized for their hardness. They’re a top choice for cookware, knife blades and other tools that last. Also, they’re used in the manufacturing of car parts and other mechanical equipment.
High-carbon steels have more than 1.7 percent carbon and are commonly used in machine parts that require extraordinary strength and resistance to corrosion. This includes anchor bolts, rods and tools.
Alloy steels are flexible and can be tailored to meet the requirements for any purpose. For instance, tungsten can increase the strength and wear-resistance of high-strength alloy steels. Chromium enhances the resistance to heat of stainless steels and improves their ductility. Molybdenum, on contrary, increases the hardness and toughness of alloy steels.
