Steel in its various types is a vital component of the United States economy. As of January 2020, domestic steel production was at 1,928,000 tons — making steel one of the most widely consumed domestic manufacturing products. From buildings to medical equipment and vehicles, the world literally runs on steel products. But not all steel materials are made alike.
There are multiple steel types and alloys that each have unique properties — making them each suited to specific production goals. Some steels are sturdy and heavy, while other steels are ductile and versatile.
Frequently, our customers approach us regarding the best type of steel for their application. We put together this quick guide to help you navigate the language of steel. Of course, you may still have questions regarding the application. Feel free to reach out to us with any unique property needs so that we can help you find the right steel and manufacturer for your needs.
Technically, carbon steel is a metal alloy that contains both iron and carbon. But in the manufacturing industry, carbon steel is often defined in multiple ways. Both of the following constitutes a “carbon steel” in the metals market.
You may also notice the term “carbon steel” applied to steels with less than 0.4% copper or steels that have certain magnesium to copper contents, though those definitions are contested across industries. For the purposes of this, we’re talking about the first two definitions.
There are three ways that carbon steel is classified — low, medium, and high
Low carbon steel (or “mild carbon steel” or “plain carbon steel”) refers to carbon steels that have up to 0.30% carbon content. This is, by far, the most common type of steel on the metals market. There are a few reasons for this. For starters, low carbon steel is relatively inexpensive. Also, since the carbon content is lower than medium and high steels, low carbon steel is easy to form and is perfect for applications where tensile strength isn’t an immediate issue, such as structural beams.
Another benefit of low carbon steel is that its properties can be improved relatively easily by adding additional elements, such as magnesium. Low carbon steel is also an ideal choice for carburizing, which improves case hardness without impacting ductility or toughness.
What are some common uses for low carbon steel?
Core properties of low carbon steel:
Medium carbon steel refers to carbon steels that have between 0.31% and 0.60% carbon content and between 0.31% and 1.60% magnesium. One of the biggest benefits of medium carbon steel is its strength. However, that comes with some tradeoffs. Medium carbon steel has low ductility and toughness — making it more difficult to form and weld.
What are some common uses for medium carbon steel?
Core properties of medium carbon steel:
High carbon steel refers to carbon steels that have between 0.61% and 1.50% carbon content and between 0.31 and 0.90 magnesium. When it comes to hardness and toughness, high carbon steel is the carbon steel of choice. However, this comes at a tradeoff. It’s very difficult to weld, cut, or form high carbon steel.
What are some common uses for high carbon steel?
Core properties of high carbon steel:
While carbon steel is typically defined by its carbon content, stainless steel is defined by its 10.5% minimum chromium content. Like carbon steel, stainless steel also contains carbon and iron, but the extra chromium is the key that gives it its unique properties. One of the biggest benefits of stainless steel is that it protects the steel for oxidization — which degrades metals over time. Stainless steel is also identified by its sheen, a property provided by the chromium. You will often see stainless steel utilized in cookware, knives, and medical equipment.
Like carbon steel, there are various types of stainless steel, each with a unique market price and properties.
Stainless steel austenitic alloys are, by far, the most common types of stainless steel metals on the market. They resist oxidation, provide a unique look, and are non-magnetic (though they can become magnetic in certain circumstances).
There are two common austenitic alloy grades:
Grades of austenitic alloys also include 301, 302, 303, 309, and 321.
Stainless steel ferritic alloys are another semi-common stainless steel alloy. Unlike austenitic alloys, they are magnetic — lending them to applications where magnetism is necessary. These are typically the cheapest stainless steel alloys due to their relatively low nickel content.
There are two common ferritic alloy grades:
Stainless steel martensitic alloys are the least common stainless steel alloy. These alloys have incredible hardiness and toughness, but they have poor oxidation properties, making them only suited for applications that require incredible hardiness.
There is one common martensitic alloy grade:
The widest and most diverse range of steel alloys is “alloy steels.” These are made by combining carbon steel with various alloying elements to provide unique properties to each steel. There is an incredibly wide range of alloy steels, but some of the most common include:
Due to the incredible variety of alloy steels, you can create steels with almost every possible property using alloy elements. That being said, some of these steels are relatively expensive.
The final steel group is tooling steels. These are steels used for tooling activities such as drilling. Commonly made up of molybdenum, vanadium, tungsten, and cobalt, tooling steels are heat-resistant, durable, and strong.
There are 6 grades of tool steel:
Staub Manufacturing offers services using most of the steels listed above. If your company needs best-fit steel parts to manufacture high-quality products, contact us. We’re American ISO 9001:2105 certified manufacturers who are ready to help you deliver superior fabricated steel products.
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The image and reputation of a company are mostly dependent on the quality of its products and services. Consequently, the quality and reliability of work produced by its metal fabrication partner can significantly influence a brand through several factors, from the product’s functionality to the frequency with which orders are fulfilled on time.
Choosing an appropriate metal fabrication company may be challenging, especially if you require highly specialized solutions. This article will walk you through the factors you must consider when choosing the right custom sheet metal fabrication company.
Experience is a significant aspect of the metal sheet fabrication company’s ability to meet the strictest specifications. You can guarantee this by ensuring that the company’s existing team has previously worked on projects similar to yours.
Remember that you should rely on something other than the company’s years of experience in the industry. In certain instances, decades-old enterprises lack the most modern technologies. Instead, you can request references from previous clients and speak with other customers about their experiences.
Moreover, you can ask the following questions:
You should always maintain quality standards, especially when it comes to custom metal sheet fabrication. Manufactured metals must be durable and long-lasting to withstand the pressures to which they will be applied.
In addition to the criteria imposed by regulatory agencies, your product or equipment must also pass internal quality checks. Therefore, knowing internal standards that meet or exceed the project’s requirements is crucial.
Ensure that the company you choose has a high level of expertise, as failure to do so could jeopardize the entire project’s success. Everyone — from assemblers and technicians to quality control inspectors and welders — must thoroughly understand the metal fabrication process.
The financial health of a corporation is as essential as its technological expertise. In some cases, your project may require new technologies, additional expertise and staff, and an increase in manufacturing capacity. Companies with stable financial conditions can cover these costs. Therefore, inquire about their financial strategy for managing the project.
You can use the following questions as a guide:
The ideal custom sheet metal fabrication partner should have the latest and most innovative metal technologies. It is also recommended that you choose a company specializing in automation — the greater the degree of automated processes, the lower the likelihood of costly errors.
Choose a company that offers the most competitive prices. You can request estimates from multiple manufacturers and select the one that best suits your budget and project specifications. However, remember that the cheapest deal does not always guarantee the most efficient use of your money.
Customer service is the foundation of a long-term partnership with a metal fabrication company. Thus, partnering with a manufacturer that keeps you completely informed through proactive communication and consistent progress reports is beneficial.
Eugenio’s Sheet Metal has been providing high-quality fabrication services since 1973! We offer sheet metal fabrication prototyping and can handle mid-volume production runs. We are also equipped with an extensive array of manual and automated metal forming, welding, and finishing technologies.
We specialize in metals, including steel, aluminum, copper, brass, stainless steel, and other materials offered. For more information, contact us today or request a quote!
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