Steel is graded and classified into four groups:Carbon steels, Alloy steels, Stainless steels Tool steels
Type 1-Carbon steels
Aside from carbon and iron, carbon steels contain only trace amounts of other components. Carbon steels are the most common of the four steel grades, accounting for 90% of total steel production! Carbon steel is classified into three subgroups based on the amount of carbon in the metal:
l Low carbon steels/mild steels (up to 0.3% carbon)
l Medium carbon steels (0.3–0.6% carbon)
l High carbon steels (more than 0.6% carbon)
Companies frequently produce these steels in large quantities since they are relatively inexpensive and robust enough to be used in large-scale construction.
Type 2-Alloy steels
Alloy steels are made by combining steel with additional alloying elements such as nickel, copper, chromium and/or aluminum. Combining these elements improves the strength, ductility, corrosion resistance and machinability of the steel.
Type 3-Stainless steels
Stainless steel grades are alloyed with 10–20% chromium as well as nickel, silicon, manganese, and carbon. Because of their increased capacity to survive adverse weather these steels have phenomenally high corrosion resistance and are safe to use in outdoor construction. Stainless steel grades are also commonly used in electrical devices.
For example, 304 stainless steel is widely sought after for its ability to withstand the environment while keeping electrical materials safe.
While different stainless steel grades, including 304 stainless steel, have a place in buildings, stainless steel is more often sought after for its sanitary properties. These steels are widely found in medical devices, pipes, pressure vessels, cutting instruments and food processing machinery.
Type 4-Tool steels
Tool steels, as the name suggests, excel in cutting and drilling equipment. The presence of tungsten, molybdenum, cobalt and vanadium helps improve heat resistance and general durability. And because they hold their shape even under heavy use, they are the preferred material for most hand tools.
Steel classifications
Beyond the four groups, steel can also be classified based on a different variables including:
Composition: carbon range, alloy, stainless, etc.
Finishing method: hot rolled, cold rolled, cold finished, etc.
Production method: electric furnace, continuous cast, etc.
Microstructure: ferritic, pearlitic, martensitic, etc.
Physical strength: per ASTM standards
De-oxidation process: killed or semi-killed
Heat treatment: annealed, tempered, etc.
Quality nomenclature: commercial quality, pressure vessel quality, drawing quality, etc.
What is the best grade of steel?
There is no universal “best” grade of steel, as the optimal steel grade for an application depends on many factors, such as the intended usage, mechanical and physical requirements, and financial limits.
Steel grades that are regularly used and deemed the top series from each type include:
Carbon steels: A36, A529, A572, 1020, 1045, and 4130
Alloy steels: 4140, 4150, 4340, 9310, and 52100
Stainless steels: 304, 316, 410, and 420
Tool steels: D2, H13, and M2
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Post time: Aug-08-2023