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What is Carbon Steel?

Overview of Carbon Steel

Carbon steel is a kind of steel that, as its name implies, contains a larger percentage of carbon than other steels. Steel has a comparatively low carbon content of around 0.3 percent in most kinds. Carbon steel, on the other hand, has a carbon content of up to 2.5 percent. Two-and-a-half percent carbon reduction may seem modest, but it brings with it a slew of new advantages that aren’t found anyplace else.

Carbon Steel Advantages

Carbon steel has a number of advantages over conventional steel, one of which is enhanced strength. By moving about its crystal latice, carbon makes iron — or steel — stronger. While carbon steel may still stress and shatter under strain, it does so less frequently than other steels. This makes carbon steel particularly useful in situations that need a lot of strength. Swords made of tamahagane steel, a high-carbon steel, were made by Japanese bladesmiths several centuries ago. Carbon steel is now utilised in a variety of applications, including construction materials, tools, automobile components, and more.

Carbon Steel Disadvantages

However, there are certain drawbacks to using carbon steel instead of conventional steel. Carbon steel is tough to deal with because of its strength. It is difficult to bend and mould into diverse shapes, which limits its use in several applications. In addition, carbon steel is more prone to rust and corrosion than other forms of steel. Manufacturers add chromium to steel to make it “stainless,” generally between 10% and 12%. Chromium acts as a protective layer over the steel, shielding it from moisture that would otherwise cause corrosion. However, because carbon steel lacks chromium, it can rust if exposed to moisture over an extended length of time.