Steel is a remarkably useful material that is utilized in a wide variety of applications. In fact, it’s estimated that over 55 percent of the average vehicle is made acoustically and thermally insulated modular steel cells of steel. The kind of alloy used to manufacture it determines its versatility, as they affect the material’s strength, durability and performance. For instance, the method that the manufacturer cools the metal can have a significant impact on its microstructure and its overall properties. It is also possible to manipulate it to achieve specific characteristics, such as machinability, yield strength, and resistance to corrosion.
In its most basic form the term steel refers to iron that has been alloyed with other elements to enhance its physical properties and make it appropriate for particular uses. The proportions of the other alloying elements determines what category of steel a particular steel belongs to and the overall performance in different applications.
For example, stainless steel contains a minimum of 11% chromium, which makes it impervious to corrosion. This makes it ideal for a variety of purposes for cutting-edge kitchen equipment or cutlery. Tool steel, on the other hand is extremely high in durability and abrasion resistance which makes it a preferred material for hand tools and machine dies. Additionally, the superior ductility and weldability of carbon steels make them suitable for a variety of applications. Electrical steel, on the other hand, is an example of one of the most specialized grades of steel that contains silicon (typically around 3%). This enhances the magnetic properties and decreases eddy current losses making it great for transformer cores as well as electric motor laminations.