What are the different grades of steel?

Different industries have different types of steel that are best suited for the kind of work they do. The uses of the material vary widely and so does its composition. There are four types of steel: Carbon Steel, Alloy Steel, Stainless Steel, and Tool Steel. Each type is used in a variety of applications and industries.

Carbon steel: The carbon steel gets its name from the fact that it is made from iron with a carbon content greater than 2%. It is a durable material that can be forged to make it tough and strong, but also flexible enough to withstand harsh weather conditions. This makes it well-suited for architectural elements like railings, fences and gates. However, it is not resistant to corrosion so it has to be painted or galvanized to protect it from rusting.

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Tool Steel: Tool steel is mostly made up of carbon but has other alloying elements added to the mix as well. Iron ore is actually an alloy in itself because it contains multiple metallic elements including carbon, silicon, manganese and phosphorous. These various combinations give tool steel its strength and hardness. It has high impact resistance making it ideal for use in tools such as hammers and chisels. It is also used in applications where high-strength metal components are needed like in aircrafts.

Alloy Steel: Alloy Steels are carbon steels that contain a minimum of one percent of elements such as silicon, manganese, chromium, nickel, molybdenum and vanadium. These additions improve hardenability and strength at high temperatures as well as increase resistance to atmospheric corrosion. Alloy Steels are divided into subgroups including tool steel, high speed steel and stainless steel.

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Stainless steels: Stainless steels are made from chromium with minor amounts of other elements added to the mix. The chromium layer forms a barrier against corrosion, making this steel very useful in marine environments and food processing equipment like refrigerators and freezers, where corrosion would otherwise be an issue. This type of steel is also useful in oil refineries because it resists rusting in corrosive environments.

 

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