CARBON STEEL

WHAT IS IT USED FOR?

• Nuts and bolts
• 0.30–0.59 percent carbon content balances ductility&strength for large parts, forging&car components
• Beams for buildings/bridges
• Its highest possible carbon content, 1.2 percent or more, can be used for axes &knives
• Lower carbon percents can be used for springs and high strength wires

INTERSTITIAL OR SUBSTITUTIONAL?

• It is an interestitial alloy
• ^Occurs when small holes in metallic crystals is filled w/ smaller atoms
• There are holes in the iron crystal that get filled with carbon atoms
• Iron is malleable but the carbon makes it harder and stronger

WHAT IS IT MADE OF?

• Mainly iron and carbon
• The only other alloying elements allowed in carbon steel are:
• manganese (1.65% max)
• silicon (0.60% max)
• and copper (0.60% max)

EARLIEST USES

• Archaeologists found iron artifacts that can be dated to 490-375BC.
• They were made from high-carbon steel which had been heated &quenched in water
• It is the earliest evidence of sophisticated blacksmithing skills in Britain.

WHY IT'S USEFUL

• High carbon steel is useful due to its hardness (the carbon makes it harder)
• Mild steel is used where large quantities of it are needed for high stiffness
• Low carbon steel is more malleable &can be rolled thin into products (like car bodies)

Partical level drawing

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