Types of Steel Materials and Their Uses

Steel is a versatile metal that can be utilized for a variety of applications. In fact, it is estimated that 55 percent of the average vehicle is composed of steel. Its versatility is determined by the type of alloy elements used to make it, since these factors affect the strength of the material, durability, and performance. The method in which metal is cooled can have an impact on its microstructure and therefore its overall properties. It is also possible to manipulate it to achieve specific characteristics, such as yield strength, machinability and resistance to corrosion.

Steel is iron that has other elements added to it to enhance its physical properties and make the steel suitable for specific applications. The proportions of these other alloying elements determine which steel type it belongs to, and therefore its overall performance in different applications.

For instance stainless is composed of a minimum of 11% chrome. This makes it invulnerable against corrosion. This characteristic is what makes it suitable for a broad range of uses, including kitchen utensils and cutlery. Tool steel is a preferred material due to its high hardness and resistance to scratching. It’s also used for machine dies and hand tools. Additionally, the superior weldability and ductility of carbon steels make them suitable for a wide range of applications. Electrical steel on the other hand is a very specialized grade of steel that contains silicon (typically about 3%). This enhances the magnetic properties and decreases losses from eddy-current. This makes it ideal for laminations and transformer cores of electric motors.

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