Steel is an indispensable material

Modern technical civilization is difficult to imagine without steel. Different brands of this material are used almost everywhere. It produces both ordinary household items and sophisticated devices. But in fact, in an ideal steel is an alloy of iron and carbon, however, like cast iron. And they are distinguished only by the percentage of C2. That is, if the alloy is less than 2.14% of carbon, then it is steel, and if more - it is already cast iron. But in fact, each steel contains various impurities, such as silicon, phosphorus, sulfur and manganese. And metallurgists, adding elements such as chromium, magnesium, molybdenum, nickel, tungsten and vanadium to it, changing the percentage of alloying elements and carbon, produce different grades of this alloy, which differ significantly in their qualities.

In this regard, they are alloyed and carbonaceous. And the quality of carbon steel (consisting only of iron and carbon) depends on the amount of C2 in it. That is, if in such alloy contains up to 0.3% of carbon, it is called soft or technical iron. And in solid steel, the percentage of this element is in the range of 0.3-2.14%. But each of the grades of this alloy has its own purpose. For example, technical iron has a high plasticity, it is not hardened, it is easily forged, welded and rolled both in cold and hot condition. Therefore, mild steel is a relatively cheap material for the manufacture of various non-load bearing parts.

Solid grades of this alloy are used for other purposes. So, for example, many people who are versed in technology know what GOST is of 45. That is, this alloy contains 0.45% of carbon. This steel can already be poured, improved and processed by cutting. From it after the improvement make such details as connecting rods, crankshafts, flywheels, cogwheels, axles, bolts and the like. It also has the ability to surface harden by HD. And this makes it possible to make out of it cogwheels, long and running shafts, that is, parts that must have high surface hardness and increased wear resistance with small deformation.

In engineering, alloyed chromium steel is widely used. This is already a material for the manufacture of high-strength parts that work with low loads. Such an alloy is difficult to weld, it requires heating and subsequent heat treatment. So, for example, steel 40X makes shafts, axles, rods, plungers, shaft-gears, spindles and rings. It is suitable for the manufacture of cam and crankshafts, rails, mandrels, bushings, toothed rims and other precise parts.

Also widely used is corrosion-resistant or stainless steel. These are such brands as 40 X 13, 30 X 13, 12 X 13 and several others. These alloys are the material for the manufacture of measuring and cutting tools, household items, carburetor needles, springs and other similar parts that work in corrosive environments and at temperatures up to 450 degrees. And such a steel as SHX15 is called ball bearing. And it is made of plungers, plunger bushings, saddles of injection valves and valves, pusher rollers, spraying housings and other parts that must have high hardness, contact strength and wear resistance. In general, if desired, steel can be selected for any purpose.