STEEL AND IT'S TYPES

STEEL AND IT'S TYPES

Steel is another most common used component in civil engineering projects. It is pure form of iron containing 1.5% carbon along with small percentages of Sulphur, silica, phosphorous and magnesia. 

TYPES OF STEEL

Steel is an intermediate stage between cast iron and wrought iron, meaning it has a difference of carbon content from other two types and this difference of carbon makes it convenient for us to categorize steel into different types. Classification depends on the percentage of carbon increasing or decreasing because it is the reason steel has it's characteristic strength. 

• VERY LOW CARBON STEEL/MILD STEEL: This type of steel has carbon in the range of 0.05% - 0.1% and is used in wires, nails, pipes, tubes, etc.
• MILD STEEL: Carbon percentage in this type ranges from 0.1% - 0.2% and is used on lightly stressed machine fittings, structural shapes, bars, rivets, etc.
• MEDIUM CARBON STEEL: This particular type has different ranges which collectively fall into this type i.e. 0.2% - 0.3%, 0.3% - 0.4%, 0.4% - 0.5% and 0.6% - 0.7%. Based on these ranges they are used in gears, axles, spring wires and rails respectively.
• HIGH CARBON STEEL: Steel in this particular type does has different ranges i.e. 0.7% - 0.8%, 0.8% - 0.9%, 0.9% - 1.0%, 1.0% - 1.1%, 1.1% - 1.2%, 1.2% - 1.3% and 1.3% - 1.4%. Based on these ranges, steel is used in clutch plates, hand tools, large turning tools, drills, slotting tools and stone cutting tools respectively.