Stainless steel or carbon steel? It is a question many plants, engineers, designers and other industry workers face at some point. Stainless and carbon steel pipes are both good choices for a variety of uses, so it may be hard to know which one is right. By getting down to the basics of what steel is and how it’s used, you should be able to better determine which will fit your needs.
You know that steel is a metal, for sure. You are aware that steel has many uses, and is found in so much of today’s fabricated world. However, even if you work with steel every day, it is possible that you have never stopped to consider what steel actually is. What is it made of? What makes steel different from other metals? And why are there so many types of steel?
What Is Steel?
Steel is a kind of metal called an alloy. An alloy is two or more kinds of natural metals that are melded together to make a new, unique metal. When we talk about steel, we are talking about a kind of metal alloy that is a mixture of iron and at least one other metal. Many types of steel have several metals in the mix, though how much is in there (that is, the concentration) may differ. Steels are classified by what kind of metals are in it and what kind of properties it has.
Carbon Steel
Carbon steel is a basic steel that is a combination of iron and carbon. It may contain other substances in trace or unmeasured amounts. Carbon steel is classified by how much carbon content is mixed in with the iron. A low-to-mid carbon steel will have less than 0.3% carbon, while a high carbon would contain up to 2%. Carbon steel is known for its strength and its ability to withstand very high temperatures.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is created by adding chromium to the alloy. While basic carbon steel may only contain up to 2% carbon, stainless steel has at least 10% chromium content. As with carbon steel, other elements may be present in stainless steel in unmeasured amounts. The most significant characteristic of stainless steel is that is doesn’t rust or corrode.
