Steel is considered as the backbone of industries. Its versatility, impressive tensile strength, and durability make it an indispensable material for construction, manufacturing, engineering, and related fields. Steel is mainly composed of iron and carbon. Its properties vary depending on treatment, composition, and process. This results in four types of steel that serve its purpose. In this blog, we explore the different types of steel, grades, and the role it plays in various industries.
What is Steel Composed of?
Steel is a material that is basically made of iron (Fe) and Carbon (C). However, it is crucial to note that modern steel is more versatile and complex. Steel is an alloy type of material, as iron is a metallic material, and carbon is a non-metallic material. The carbon content can vary and can be upto 2%. By increasing the carbon content, it can make the steel brittle.
4 Types of Steel
The four types of steel are classified into 4 groups viz Carbon Steel, Alloy Steel, and Stainless Steel and Tool Steel.
#1 Carbon Steel
Carbon is one of the most common types of steel. It consists of traces of elements apart from carbon and iron. It is classified into three groups based on the carbon content:
- Low carbon steel or mild steel (Carbon content up 0.3%)
- Medium carbon steel ( Carbon content between 0.3 to 0.6%)
- High carbon steel (Carbon content more than 0.6%)
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#2 Alloy Steel
This type of steel is made by mixing steel with other alloying components like nickel, chromium, or copper. This allows the steel to exhibit superior tensile strength, anti-corrosion resistance, improved ductility, and machinability.
#3 Stainless Steel
Stainless steel comprises 10.5 to 20% chromium. The higher the chromium content the shinner are the finished products. This type of steel displays impressive resistance to corrosion and can withstand extreme weather conditions, making it ideal for outdoor applications.
#4 Tool Steel
Tool steel is specially designed for producing drilling and cutting equipment. This type of steel exhibits excellent wear resistance and can withstand high temperatures.
Types of Steel Grades
The steel grading system classifies steel based on case use. Two of the most common global steel grading systems are:
- SAE/AISI Steel Grade: The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) provide four-digit codes to categorize steel based on its chemical composition and case use.
- ASTM Steel Grade: The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) classifies steel based on its mechanical properties like durability, tensile strength, ductility, and other properties.
Conclusion
These steel grades are used by engineers, architects, and government agencies to ensure the consistency and quality of steel. The steel grades are standards to display the steel’s properties with specificialty to ensure precise processes and applications. Mild steel is one of the versatile, durable, and high-endurance types of steel. Laxmi Enterprise is a trusted MS steel product supplier in Vadodara. We offer a comprehensive range of MS products to cater to diverse requirements. Contact us to discuss your requirements further.