In
its basic composition, steel is not a metal per se but a very versatile alloy
and one of the most sought-after materials all over the world. In the
construction industry itself, steel suppliers are some of the busiest
businessmen around due to the demand of their merchandise.
Steel
is mainly composed of iron plus a mixture of different components. These would include
carbon, manganese, nickel chromium aluminum and many other metals. Since it is composed
of many variations of possible compositions, there actually are many types around.
Carbon steel
The
majority in production today is carbon steel. It is the most basic steel type,
cheap and very flexible for many applications. Compared to the other types,
this one has relatively low tensile strength, but it is very malleable and
ductile.
Mostly,
these are manufactured to become flat-rolled sheets and strips used for
building ships, wires, car bodies, and some home appliances. They are also good
for fencing and railing.
Medium
carbon steel (or mild steel) is a bit stronger than the low-carbon type. They
are used for building and bridges as axles, gears, shafts, rails and pipelines,
including cars, refrigerators and washing machines.
Ultra-high
carbon steel is very hard but brittle. They are used for cutting tools, large
machine parts, radiators, and industrial castings. They are known primarily as
“cast iron”.
Alloy steel
This
type is prized by many industries on the strength of its being low cost, the
ease of its processing and its extensive availability. It actually is a mixture
of several metals that include nickel, silicon, titanium, copper, manganese, and
aluminum.
The
strength and other properties of the steel depend on the concentration of the
elements they contain. The elements are added to manipulate the steel’s
properties like its hardness, resistance to corrosion, strength, formability
and ductility (welding capabilities).
They
are commonly used in heavy-duty pipes used in transporting oil and gas, and
ball bearings of complicated and heavily-stressed machineries.
Tool steel
Tool
steel is one type of carbon alloy that is best suited in the manufacture of
tools. Its main quality is resistance to abrasion or corrosion. They are also
very hard and are impact resistant and able to hold an edge.
There
are several grades of this steel type. The W-grade is for water hardening, the
A-grade is for air hardening, D-grade fro D types, O-grade is for oil hardening
and the S-grade is for shock resisting types.
Tool
steel contains molybdenum, tungsten, vanadium and cobalt in different degrees,
all aimed at increasing heat resistance and durability. They are ideal for
cutting and drilling equipments.
Stainless steel
These
are used mainly for household tools because it is highly resistant to corrosion
(because of the high chromium content in the mix). Because of its composition,
it is very easy to clean, polish and sterilize.
Since
they are shiny and corrosion-resistant, they are used as knives, cookware, and
other kitchen utensils. They are also favored for use in hospital equipments
and devices as well as in aircraft and automotive use.
All
of these are available from your steel suppliers for use in almost all types of
industries.
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