Understanding the different types and their properties is crucial when choosing the right steel for your needs. Highmark Solutions can help you select the correct grade of steel for your exact needs. If you are unsure where to start this guide will get you in the right ballpark. Once we know this we can recommend the exact grade for your application.
Carbon Steel:
Carbon steel is a metal alloy consisting of iron and carbon. It can be classified in two ways: steel with up to 2% carbon content, or steel without significant amounts of other elements that classify it as an alloy steel. The former definition is commonly used. Carbon steel is further classified into low, medium, and high carbon steel.
1. Low Carbon Steel:
Low carbon steel has up to 0.30% carbon content and is the most common type of steel. It is affordable, easy to form, and suitable for applications where high tensile strength is not required. Low carbon steel can be improved by adding other elements and is often used in structural components, machinery, pipes, appliances, automobiles, surgical instruments, and more.
Properties:
- Low cost
- Low hardness
- Mild strength
- High machinability
- Very high toughness
- High ductility
- High weldability
2. Medium Carbon Steel:
Medium carbon steel contains between 0.31% and 0.60% carbon. It offers greater strength than low carbon steel but has lower ductility and toughness. Medium carbon steel is used in machinery parts, pressure structures, cranks, gears, railway tracks, and other applications.
Properties:
- Low hardenability
- Medium ductility
- Average toughness
- Medium strength
- Medium weldability
- Average machinability
3. High Carbon Steel:
High carbon steel has between 0.61% and 1.50% carbon content. It provides excellent hardness and toughness but is challenging to weld, cut, or shape. High carbon steel finds applications in railways, bars, spring steel, plates, and more.
Properties:
- Low hardenability
- Low ductility
- Reduced weldability
- Low machinability
- High toughness
- High strength
Stainless Steel:
Stainless steel contains a minimum of 10.5% chromium, which protects it from oxidation. It has similar components to carbon steel but offers enhanced properties. Stainless steel is commonly used in cookware, knives, and medical equipment. There are various types of stainless steel, each with unique properties.
1. Austenitic Alloys:
Austenitic alloys are the most common stainless steel types. They resist oxidation, have a distinctive look, and are non-magnetic. Grades such as 304 and 316 are popular.
2. Ferritic Alloys:
Ferritic alloys are magnetic and have lower nickel content, making them more affordable. Common grades include 430 and 434.
3. Martensitic Alloys:
Martensitic alloys have exceptional hardness and toughness but poor oxidation resistance. Grade 420 is a common example.
Alloy Steels:
Alloy steels are created by combining carbon steel with various alloying elements such as chromium, cobalt, molybdenum, nickel, tungsten, and vanadium. They offer a wide range of properties but can be relatively expensive.
Tooling Steels:
Tooling steels are used for activities like drilling. They are heat-resistant, durable, and strong, often composed of molybdenum, vanadium, tungsten, and cobalt. Tool steels have various grades, including air-hardening, water-hardening, D-type, hot-working, shock-resisting types, and oil-hardening.
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