Can you imagine what our life would be like if humans didn’t invent steel?
Cars, airplanes, ships, and virtually all forms of transportation? Forget about it. How about skyscrapers, bridges, and other advanced infrastructure? — no can do.
Those are just a fraction of the contribution of steel to the modern world. It’s not too far-fetched to say that the development of humankind would have been impossible without the invention of steel.
That said, did you know that there are other types of steel besides “stainless?”
The four main steel types are carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, and tool steel. Each has unique properties that give them an edge with specific applications.
Learn about the different types of steel you can use on your next project by reading below.
Carbon Steel
Technically, steel has always been an alloy of iron and carbon. But carbon steel products are unique because of the notable absence of other elements. In other words, carbon steel doesn’t contain any alloy metals such as cobalt, tungsten, etc.
While often confused with cast iron, carbon steel has less than 2 percent carbon while cast iron has 2 to 3.5 percent carbon. The three main classifications of carbon steel depend on how much carbon the metal contains. Low carbon has up to 0.3 percent, medium carbon has 0.3 to 0.6 percent, and high carbon steel has more than 0.6 percent.
Carbon steels are strong and cheap to manufacture, making them suited for large-scale construction. They account for about 90 percent of production from steel suppliers. Their one weakness is they can be vulnerable to corrosion.
Stainless Steel
As the name implies, stainless steel has high corrosion and oxidation resistance. If the metal will be in contact with potentially corrosive substances, e.g., food, water, or body fluids, stainless is the way to go. We see stainless steel in utensils, a steel pipe, or used to make scalpels and other surgical equipment.
You’ll know the steel is stainless because of its characteristic luster, which is due to the presence of chromium. Chromium makes up about 10 to 20 percent of this metal alloy. It’s the element that provides steel protection against corrosion and rust.
Alloy Types of Steel
Alloy types are very diverse. They cover all the other steel alloys that aren’t carbon or chromium-based. Each combination offers something different, allowing for customization in specific applications.
For example, copper conducts heat and electricity efficiently. Thus, the copper-steel combination is well-suited for electrical wiring and heat exchangers. Silicon has strong magnetic properties, so the alloy is used to make permanent magnets for use in electrical transformers.
Other elements used in alloy steels include aluminum, nickel, tungsten, vanadium, and molybdenum.
Tool Steel
Tool steel is used in the production of, well, tools. Tool use in tasks such as drilling, cutting, and hammering requires this type of steel. The metal must be exceptionally sturdy and capable of withstanding continuous punishment.
This steel type contains varying amounts of tungsten, cobalt, vanadium, or molybdenum. These elements impart heat and impact resistance to the metal.
We Can All Use a Bit of Steel in Our Lives
From carbon to stainless, there are different types of steel for every occasion. Each brings something unique to the table, and each metal type has strengths and weaknesses. But for whatever purpose they may serve, know that steel will always be the backbone of modern civilization.
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