Steel is flexible and often utilized throughout sectors. Not all steels are the same. Carbon, alloy, and stainless steel are typical steels with different qualities and applications. This detailed post explains some major types of steel along with distinctions between these steels, their properties, and their applications in different sectors.
Carbon Steel – one of the major types of steel
Up to 2.0% carbon by weight is in carbon steel, which also contains manganese, silicon, and copper. Carbon steel may be low, medium, or high carbon. Low-carbon steel (Mild Steel) is the most prevalent variety of steel, which has a carbon concentration of up to 0.3% and is cheap, weldable, and easy to shape. Automotive parts, pipelines, and building products utilize this steel.
Medium Carbon Steel
0.3%–0.6% carbon balances strength, elasticity, and hardness. Gears, shafts, and machine components take advantage of its higher strength than low-carbon steel. Automotive components manufacturers give preference to this type of steel.
High Carbon Steel
The hardest and strongest of the three varieties of steel, high carbon steel has 0.6% to 2.0% carbon. However, it is the least ductile and hardest to deal with. Tools, springs, and wires made of high-carbon steel are ubiquitous. Industrial fastener manufacturers use this type of steel very much.
Alloy Steel
Combining elements with alloy steel improves its strength, hardness, wear resistance, and toughness. Manganese, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, silicon, and boron are often alloys. These constituents may drastically alter the steel’s mechanical and physical characteristics, making it ideal for various purposes.
There are two primary alloy steels
The alloy percentage of low alloy steel is less than 8%. Automotive components manufacturers, the aerospace industry, and construction sectors employ low alloy steel for strength, toughness, and corrosion resistance since it has better mechanical qualities than carbon steel. Steel with greater than 8% alloy percentage is high alloy steel. High-stress industries including power generation, petrochemical, and heavy equipment manufacturing employ this steel due to its exceptional mechanical qualities.
Steel Stainless
Stainless steel resists rust and corrosion due to its minimum 11% chromium content. This makes stainless steel appropriate for severe environments and endurance applications. Heat resistance and strength at high temperatures are additional hallmarks of stainless steel.
Crystal structure classifies stainless steel into numerous types:
Austenitic Stainless Steel
The most common kind has 18% chromium and 8% nickel. This one of the major types of steel is ideal for kitchen appliances, food processing equipment, and chemical storage tanks. It is because of its unmatched corrosion resistance, formability, and weldability.
Ferritic stainless steel
Magnetism and moderate corrosion resistance characterize ferritic stainless steel, which contains 10.5% to 27% chromium. Automotive exhaust systems, architectural uses, and domestic appliances employ this stainless steel.
Martensitic Stainless Steel
Strong and robust, martensitic stainless steel has 11.5% to 18% chromium and more carbon than ferritic stainless steel. However, it is less corrosion-resistant and harder to shape and weld. Fasteners, blades, cutting tools, and surgical instruments are common uses. Industrial fastener manufacturers in the United States and around the world use martensitic stainless steel – one of the major types of steel.
Duplex Stainless Steel
As its name implies, duplex stainless steel combines austenitic and ferritic characteristics. Its two-phase microstructure comprises about equal austenitic and ferritic phases. This steel is strong, corrosion-resistant, and weldable. Chemical processing, oil and gas, and maritime sectors utilize it.
Precipitation-hardening stainless steel
Heat treatment may increase the strength of precipitation-hardening stainless steel, making it appropriate for applications that need both strength and corrosion resistance. Aerospace, petrochemical, and nuclear sectors employ precipitation-hardening stainless steel.
Applications of major types of steel across industries
Understanding the distinctions between carbon, alloy, and stainless steel helps choose the proper material for a project. Some industries and applications that use these steels:
Carbon steel is used for beams, columns, and reinforcing bars in construction. Its corrosion resistance and aesthetic appeal make stainless steel ideal for architectural components, railings, and fasteners. The automobile industry uses alloy steel for gears, axles, and suspension components due to its strength and wear resistance. The exhaust, trim, and fasteners are stainless steel.
Aerospace: Alloy and stainless steel are essential. Engine parts and fuel systems need corrosion and heat resistance, whereas landing gear uses alloy steel.
Energy: Pipelines and pressure vessels employ carbon steel. Power-generating equipment like turbines and heat exchangers employ alloy and stainless steel owing to their strength and corrosion resistance.
Food Processing: Food processors choose stainless steel because it is corrosion-resistant, simple to clean, and does not taste or smell bad. Mixers, conveyors, and storage tanks employ it.
Concluding Remarks
Steels including carbon steel, alloy steel, and stainless steel have diverse qualities and applications. Understanding the distinctions between these major types of steel helps engineers, machinists, and other professionals choose the optimum material for their projects.
