Steel is a versatile metal that can be utilized for a variety of uses. In fact, it is believed that more than 55 percent of a car is composed of steel. Its versatility is determined by the kind of alloy elements used to make it since these factors affect the overall strength, durability, and performance. The method by which the metal is cooled can have significant impact on its microstructure, and therefore, its overall properties. It can also be altered to achieve specific characteristics, such as machinability, yield strength, and resistance to corrosion.
In its simplest form the term steel refers to iron that has been alloyed with other elements to improve its physical properties and make it appropriate for specific applications. The proportions of additional alloying elements determines the category of steel a steel is part of and its overall performance in various applications.
For example stainless is composed of a minimum of 11% chromium. This makes it impervious against corrosion. This makes it perfect for a variety of purposes for cutting boards and kitchen utensils. Tool steel, meanwhile has an extremely high resistance to abrasion and hardness that makes it a favorite for hand tools and machine dies. Carbon steels also lend themselves to a wide range of applications due to their excellent ductility. Electrical steel is a specialized steel grade that contains silicon (typically 3%) This improves its magnetic properties and reduces eddy current losses making it ideal for transformer cores as well as electric motor laminations.
