What is steel?
Steel is an iron alloy with
an amount of carbon that can vary between 0.03% and 1.075% by weight of its
composition, depending on the steel grade.
Steel is not the same as
iron and the two materials should not be confused. Iron (Fe) is a relatively
hard and tough metal, with a melting temperature of 1535 °C and a boiling point
of 2740 °C.
The main difference between
iron and steel is in the percentage of carbon: steel is iron with a percentage
of carbon between 0.03% and 1.075%.
Steel preserves the metallic
characteristics of iron in its pure state, but the addition of carbon and other
elements, both metallic and non-metallic, improves its physicochemical
properties, especially its strength.
There are many types of
steel depending on the elements that are present. Each type of steel will allow
different applications and uses, which makes it a versatile and widely used
material in modern life, where we can find it widely on avenues and bridges.
The properties of steel
depend on its chemical composition and the type of treatment applied. The most
important characteristics that all steels share are as follows:
- Hardness: it is difficult to penetrate.
- Strength: it is able to resist twisting, compression, traction and bending
without deforming.
- Malleability: withstands forces without breaking.
- Ductility: allows it to be deformed at high temperatures into conductive
wires and threads or into thin sheets.
The types of treatment that steels are subjected to enhance some of their properties are:
- Heat treatment: application
of heat.
- Thermochemical treatment:
use of chemicals and heat.
- Surface treatment: coatings
of other materials.
- Mechanical treatment:
introduction in hot and cold environments.
- Carbon steel: it is one that is composed only of iron and carbon.
Types of Steel
The types of steels are classified according to their composition. Some of them are:
- Special steel: it combines iron, carbon and other elements such as aluminum,
manganese among others.
- Alloy steel: It is an alloy that includes silicon or nickel used in tubes and
valves, pumps and automotive parts thanks to its resistance to corrosion of
liquids with high pH (neutral and alkaline). It is classified, in turn, into
gray cast iron and nodular cast iron.
- Stainless steel: the composition of this steel includes chromium which makes it
resistant to corrosion and oxidation. In addition, it has a more attractive
appearance since it is polished.
- High speed steel: this type of alloy contains tungsten used to make high speed
cutting tools used in factories.
The two main components of
steel are found in abundance in nature. Steel can be recycled indefinitely
without losing its attributes, which favors its large-scale production. This
variety and availability makes it suitable for numerous uses such as the
construction of machinery, tools, buildings, electrical structures and public
works, in aeronautics, in the automotive industry, in greenhouses, in medical instruments,
in the furniture sector among others. Contributing to the technological
development of industrialized societies, as no material can match it when it
comes to resistance to impact or fatigue.
