Types Of Steel And Their Functions

Steel is a strong element that comes in a variety of grades and chemical compositions. With so many various steel alloys and steel characteristics, it may come as a surprise to learn that all steel, even CNC machining steel, is made up of just two elements: iron and carbon.

steel - Types Of Steel And Their Functions

Steel is widely used in construction and buildings. Steel is not only inexpensive, widely accessible, and safer; its inherent qualities, such as strength, flexibility, durability, and 100 percent recyclability, allow for enhanced environmental performance over the full life cycle of structures.

There are 4 types of steel that you can choose from depending on the functionality.

1.       Carbon Steel

Carbon steel has only a small amount of other alloying elements depending on the types. Low carbon steel (0.3%), medium carbon steel (0.3-0.6%) and high carbon steel (more than 0.6%). Carbon steel can be considered as a strong steel and only use low cost which makes carbon steel the ideal steel to be used for small-scale and large-scale construction.

Things that can be made using carbon steel:

–          Wire

–          Bolts

–          Pipes

–          Blades

–          Railroad tracks

All of these use different types of carbon steel. But the thing about carbon steel is, they look dull and vulnerable to corrosions.

2.       Stainless Steel

I can say that stainless steel is the most commonly used steel among the others. This kind is well-known for its function in the production of medical equipment and appliances, but its applications extend well beyond the gas stove in your kitchen. Stainless steel is usually shiny and generally has 10-15% of chromium which is their main alloying element.

This type of steel is easy to mould and also resistant to corrosion which is why it is used widely in factories.

Here are the things that can be made using stainless steel;

–          Medical equipment

–          Silverware

–          Home applications

–          Industrial buildings

Stainless steel has shiny and easy to shape properties which makes them usable in many industries.

3.       Alloy Steel

Following that is alloy steel, which is a combination of various metals such as nickel, copper, and aluminium. These are often less expensive and more corrosion resistant. The concentration of the components in it determines its strength.

Here are few types of alloy steel that we can see:

–          Aluminium: used in power generators because of its heat-resistant property.

–          Copper: electrical wiring

–          Molybdenum: used for underwater construction or oil and gas pipelines as it works under high pressure

–          Manganetes: used in bulletproof cabinets, anti-drill plates and high strength safes because of the impact-resistant steel.

4.       Tool Steel

Tempering, the process of adding high heat, cooling quickly then heating again, creates tool steel that’s extremely hard and heat-resistant. Tool steel is used to tool manufacturing machinery because of the making process.

Tool steels, which include tungsten, molybdenum, cobalt, and vanadium to improve heat resistance and durability, produce excellent cutting and drilling equipment.

All these steels are important and can be very useful for our daily lives. To supply electricity, knives for cooking, car gears and a lot more. You can get your steels from a steel company in Malaysia for the best quality.…

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