Mankind has first started to work with iron, and it was not even a few thousand years later the ultra-common element was applied for the important role – steel production. Steel is used in various mechanical and electrical applications with heavy construction equipment, appliances, and different tools. Different varieties can make it entirely confusing for anyone to decide the type of their uses depending on different requirements. Steel is an iron alloy, which means it is entirely composed of iron – it is the combination of one or other alloying metals to produce various materials that can be used for different purposes. There are four main classifications that anyone can consider, but different subgroups serve unique purposes. Their properties change depending on the elements combined with iron and the methods used to heat or cool the metal. We offer a wider variety of steel that you can consider – iron is fused with the carbon and a different number of other elements to achieve a specific goal, so the main types are –
Carbon Steel
You will notice that every steel contains carbon, but every carbon steel is unique for a notable absence of various other elements used in its manufacturing, and it only contains 2% of the carbon or less according to its weight. Its elemental nature makes carbon steel a strong yet durable material that is ideal for different types of uses. Most people get confused between carbon steel and cast iron, which contains less than 2% of carbon, while cast iron contains 2% to 3.5% carbon, providing a rough texture and a more brittle nature. Even though carbon steel is made with the use of alloyed metal, it does not include the classification of the alloy due to the lack of other alloy elements in its entire composition. We stock a large range of sizes actually contributes to carbon steel’s popularity, which is accountable for 90% of steel production.
Stainless steel
This type is commonly known for manufacturing medical equipment and appliances, but its range of use is far greater than the gas range used in your kitchen. Chromium is the alloy that sets stainless steel apart while lending the material its distinctive luster. Further chromium is more than a purely cosmetic addition, and the element is oxidation-resistant, increasing the metal’s longevity while preventing it from rusting. Typically, stainless steel has a chromium content that is more than 10.5%, but sometimes it contains up to 30% in certain applications. Higher chromium content directly translates to a higher gloss when polished, and it has greater resistance to corrosion. At the same time, stainless steel is different from chrome when chromium is electroplated with another metal to produce a tough, polished coating. The sheen is extremely high-chromium stainless steel applications, which is less than the mirror-like due to the additions to other elements.
Alloy steel
The alloy steel is iron fused with one of the various other elements, each contributes its own unique attributes to the final products, and it is true that all steels are alloy, but carbon chromium are specific alloys with names attributes to the type of metal they form. Alloy steel as a group includes a wider range of alloys with equally diverse properties. Shipping containers use a complex alloy that combines different elements to produce a durable and lasting product; but silicon is not often a component of steel, but its magnetic properties make it a perfect element for large machinery.
Tool steel
Tool steels are straight about their business, and they are used to tool industrialized machinery – tempering, the process of adding heat, cooling quickly, then heating again when needed. It creates tool steel that is extremely harder and heat-resistant while they are usually used in high-impact environments and are very abrasive.