As the backbone of heavy equipment as well as tools and household items steel plays a major role in the construction and manufacturing. However there are a variety of steels that are created equal; the kind of steel you select for your project can drastically affect its strength and durability.
While all steels are made of iron and carbon, the amount of impurities and other additions determine the way in which each is classified. This is what makes every type unique for specific application.
Low-carbon steels, offered in a variety of forms are the most employed steels by metal fabricators. They can be found in beams, pipes, and other structural elements. They’re also ideal for welded fabrications because they can be easily shaped and formed without compromising its strength or quality.
Medium-carbon steels contain less than 1.75% carbon content and are recognized for their toughness. They’re the most popular choice for knives, cookware and other tools that last. They’re also commonly used to create car parts and other mechanical equipment.
High-carbon steels are used to make parts that require a high strength and corrosion resistance. This includes anchor bolts, rods and tools.
Alloy steels have a wide range of useful properties that can be altered to meet the demands of the specific application. For example, tungsten increases the strength of temperature and wear resistance of high-strength steels. Chromium enhances the resistance to heat of stainless steels and increases their ductility. Molybdenum on the other hand increases the hardness and toughness of alloy steels.
