Steel Types
The steels are classified by different criteria and these are as follow.
- On the basis of carbon content
In this steel type, steels are classified by the carbon contain in steel and these are as follow.
- Low carbon steels
Low carbon steel is also known as Mild Steel. As per name, this type of steel contain low amount of carbon in steel composition as compare to other steel. Low carbon steels contain 0.008 to 0.30% carbon. Low carbon steels are soft, malleable, ductile, etc. It is use for nails, rivets, screw, gears, fan blades.
- Medium carbon steels
Medium carbon steel contain 0.30 to 0.60% carbon in composition. These types of steel are not so hard, malleable and ductile. It is used for bolts, rods, gears, axles.
- High carbon steels
High carbon steel contains more carbon percentage in composition than other two types. It contain 0.60 to 2% carbon in composition. It is hard, strong, brittle, wear resistance.
- On the basis of alloying elements
In this criteria, steels are classified by total amount of alloying elements contain in steel composition and these are as follow.
- Low alloy steels
Low alloy steel contain less than 10% alloying elements in composition.
- High alloy steels
High alloy steel contain more than 10% alloying elements in composition.
- On the basis of amount of deoxidation
During steel manufacturing process some or all of the oxygen removed from the molten metal with the help of deoxidizer this process is known as deoxidation. If the oxygen is not removed before or during casting then the gaseous products evolve during solidification. According to amount of gas evolved or amount of oxygen removed, steels are classify in three types and these are as follow
- Killed steel
- Semi killed steel
- Rimmed steel
- Base on different application or Special purpose steel
In industrial area according to their need different properties of steel is required. To obtain different properties of steel different composition and alloying elements are used for manufacturing steel. Following are some examples of this steel type.
- Machinery steels,
- Corrosion resistant steels,
- Structural steels
- Electrical steels,
- Spring steels, etc.
- Alloy steels
When certain special properties are required some elements such as nickel, chromium, manganese, etc are add in steel. Steel obtain after this called as alloy steel. According to different properties and uses alloy steels are again classified, for types click on Types of alloy steel.
- Stainless steels
Stainless steel contains chromium, molybdenum, and nickel alloying elements in steel, which make it highly corrosion resistance. They do not corrode in most of the environmental condition. Due to this, they are known as stainless steel. They are highly corrosion resistance due to this stainless steel are largely used. Stainless steel identify by three numerical numbers like 304, 310, 440, etc. Stainless steels are classified in four types, for types click on Types of stainless steel.
- Tool steels
As per name tool steels are used for manufacturing different tools. For manufacturing different tools different properties are required such as hardness, resistance to abrasion, wear and deformation and ability to hold a cutting edge at high temperatures. Tool steels include large number of alloy elements. Some major alloying elements are tungsten, chromium, vanadium and molybdenum. Tool steels are again classified in different types, for types click on Types of tool steel.
- High speed steels
High speed steels are very hard and high abrasion and wear resistance. It can withstand higher temperatures without losing its hardness. Due to this property high speed steel can cut faster than high carbon steel, hence this is known as high-speed steel. High speed steels contain tungsten or molybdenum with chromium, cobalt and vanadium. High speed steels are used in power-saw blades, drill bits, etc.
