Steel is an alloy that is, in essence, composed of a mixture of iron and carbon. The combination of elements that creates steel provides several properties, including a high strength-to-weight ratio, durability and occasional resistance to corrosion.
Nearyz Resources contains other products and information you need, so please check it out.
The UK-based steel fabricators that Buy A Beam work with use several different techniques and processes to fabricate various types of steel. The process of steel fabrication turns raw steel into pre-made shapes, which can then be assembled into the necessary product. Steel fabrication is a highly skilled task, with trained fabricators needing to understand how to combine different techniques to create the best final product.
The variety in grades of steel comes from the impurities and additional alloying elements that can be added, which has resulted in over different steel grades currently existing. This enormous number of steel grades would be near-impossible for anyone other than steel fabricators and experts to comprehend, but thankfully the grades can be broadly categorised into four different types of steel.
As the purest form of steel, this variation mainly consists of just iron and carbon, with a very small amount of other alloying elements added. Carbon steel often has a dull, matte appearance and can be vulnerable to corrosion. There are three variations of carbon steel, depending on the percentage of carbon included within the alloy:
Low Carbon/Mild Steel - Mild steel contains around 0.3% carbon content, which gives it the ability to stretch whilst under strain. This is commonly used to make wires, bolts and pipes.
Medium Carbon - Medium carbon steel typically contains around 0.6% carbon content, which reduces its flexibility but improves the alloy&#;s strength, meaning it&#;s great to use to make items such as train tracks.
High Carbon - High carbon steel can contain around 1.5% carbon content (but never more than 2% carbon), which adds a level of strength that makes this type of steel perfect for creating sharp cutting tools.
As the name suggests, this group of steels is categorised by including other alloying elements, such as nickel, copper, and aluminium. These extra alloying elements can add various properties depending on what is required, including resistance to corrosion, strength, or weldability.
Due to these properties, alloy steel is often used in steel fabrication to create car parts, ship hulls, or other parts for mechanical projects. Alloy steel is often cheaper than different types of steel, making them popular across a wide range of steel fabrication projects.
Tool steels are commonly used to make metal tools such as hammers. This type of steel is particularly suited to create tools because tool steels are both heat and scrape resistant, with advanced durability contributed by incorporating elements like cobalt or tungsten to the steel.
Tempering is often used to create tool steel, which involves adding heat, cooling the steel down quickly and then heating it again. This builds a level of strength and resistance that&#;s hard to beat
Want more information on High Quality Steel Supply? Feel free to contact us.
Most people have heard of this type of steel, whether they have experience working with steel or not. Stainless steel generally contains between 10-20% chromium as its alloying element and is commonly used in steel fabrication whenever corrosion resistance is the priority. Everyday products made through stainless steel fabrication include cutting tools, food processing equipment and medical equipment. Stainless steel is such a versatile material that there are over 100 different grades within this one sub-type of steel.
If you want to learn more about steel grades, read this blog from Buy A Beam.
Steel Fabrication Services
If you&#;re looking to order steel from one of the four steel styles explained above, the Buy A Beam shop can help. It&#;s a simple way of ordering steel online from steel fabricators local to you. If you have any further queries, feel free to contact us today, and we&#;d be happy to help.
As the name suggests, carbon steel contains mainly carbon and iron, and a trace of other elements (such as magnesium or chromium). There are three main subcategories of carbon steel which include:
(less than 0.3% carbon) &#; Most common on the market because it&#;s relatively inexpensive, easy to form, and highly ductile. Commonly used for pipes, domestic appliances, wires, medical equipment, etc.
(0.3% &#; 0.6% carbon) &#; It&#;s strong, but it is difficult to form due to low ductility and toughness. Commonly used in machinery parts, cranks, gears, etc.
(greater than 0.6% carbon) &#; Hardest and toughest variety, but is difficult to weld, cut, and form. Commonly used for railways, bars, spring steel, etc.
As we mentioned above, each type of carbon steel offers different levels of strength, ductility, and workability that make them suitable for different applications.
Generally, this type of steel is used in materials such as construction equipment and automotive components. In fact, carbon steel accounts for about 90% of total steel production in the entire industry because it&#;s inexpensive to produce and durable enough for use in large commercial projects.
For more information, please visit Hot Rolled Steel Plate Suppliers.