Understanding Carbon Steel

THIS ARTICLE MAKES AN EFFORT TO UNDERSTAND CARBON STEEL AND ITS DIFFERENT TYPES:
Carbon steel is steel in which the main interstitial alloying constituent is carbon in the range of 0.12–2.0%. The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) definition says:

Steel is considered to be carbon steel when no minimum content is specified or required for chromium, cobalt, molybdenum, nickel, niobium, titanium, tungsten,vanadium or zirconium, or any other element to be added to obtain a desired alloying effect;when the specified minimum for copper does not exceed 0.40 percent; or when the maximum content specified for any of the following elements does not exceed the percentages noted: manganese 1.65, silicon 0.6, copper 0.6.

Effect of Carbon:
Generally, carbon is the most important commercial steel alloy. Increasing carbon content increases hardness and strength and improves hardenability. But carbon also increases brittleness and reduces weldability because of its tendency to form martensite. This means carbon content can be both a blessing and a curse when it comes to commercial steel.

Effect of Manganese:
Manganese is a chemical element that is present in all commercial steels, and contributes substantially to a steel’s strength and hardness, but to a lesser extent than does carbon.

1.The effectiveness of Manganese in increasing mechanical properties depends on and is proportional to the carbon content of the steel.
2. Manganese also plays an important role in decreasing the critical cooling rate during hardening. This means thatmanganese helps to increase the steel’s hardenability. It’s effect on hardenability is greater than that of any of the other commonly used alloying elements.
3. Manganese is also an active deoxidizer, and is less likely to segregate than other elements.
4. Manganese improves machinability, by combining with sulfur to form an soft inclusion in the steel that promotes a steady built up edge and a place for the chip to break.
5.Manganese improves yield at the steel mill by combining with the sulfur in the steel, minimizing the formation of iron pyrite (iron sulfide) which can cause the steel to crack and tear during high temperature rolling.

Based on its carbon content, carbon steel is divided into four categories:
1. Low Carbon Steel (0.05-0.35% carbon content)
2.Medium Carbon Steel (0.3-0.6% carbon content)
3.High Carbon Steel (0.7-2.5% carbon content) – This is Stainless Steel generally.
The majority Carbon Steelproducts that Trio Steel deals in would fall in the Low Carbon Steel category

1. API 5L GR.B, API 5L X42, API 5L X46, API 5L X52, API 5L X56, API 5LX60, API 5LX65, API 5L X70, API 5LX80, API 5L X100. Under this there are different sub items i.e. PSL 1 and PSL2 (product specification level). Also, there are types i.e. seamless, welded (LSAW, ERW, DSAW, HSAW).
2.Low-Temp A333 Gr.6 Pipes (make links here taking them to our product page)
3. ASTM A106 GR B Pipes
4. ASTM A671 CC 60, CC65, CC70 EFW Pipes (in various class like CL12, CL22, CL32 etc)
5.ASTM A672 CC 60, CC65, CC70 EFW Pipes (in various class like CL12, CL22, CL32 etc)
6. ST 37, ST 42, St 52 Pipes.