Physical Properties of Steel

The advantages of steel , an alloy of carbon and iron , is durability and versality . Here are some of the introduction about the physical properties of steel .

 Steel is made by the mixing of iron and carbon together , the weight of carbon is in the range of the 0.2 until 2.14 percent .Beside that , the chromium , manganese , vanadium and tungsten is a alloyinh material also used to make the steel . All of that material , carbon is the most economical element . THe function of alloying element is to hardening the metal when cooling .

Wrought iron and cast iron are different with steel , this is because the percentage of carbon among of this three element are different . Wrought iron contains less iron than steel , where as cast iron contain more iron than steel . THat why the steel is postion between these three element . The element inside the steel are totally different with the element of iron and carbon . THe properties of steel is  , when it subjected to water or oil , it can be cool down rapidly . THe physical property of steel is up to the percentage composition of the constituent elements and the manufacturing process . When the temperature is high a particular amount of carbon can be dissolved in the steel  .

The advantages of steel is high strength , low weight , durability , flexibility and corrosive resistance . Steel can withstand high tension athrough it was very light in weight . In practise , the strength over weight for steel is the lowest than any other building materials as we know now . Therefore , the steel can easily be molded to form any shape we needed in the construction .

Steel are differs with other constituent element , it will not corrode easily when being exposed to the water or moisture . All of the steel have dimensional stability , as the dimension of steel remains the same after hundered year or being explosed to extreme environmental conditions like acid rain . Steel is a good conductor of electricity , wheather in solid or molten state .

Steel grades are classified by hardening . The deciding factor for hardness of the metal is depending upon the amount of carbon content . The higher the carbon content in the steel , the harder and stronger is the steel metal , but the higher content of carbon will increase the chances of fracture ( brittle ) . High quality steel contains less carbon , yet retaining the strength and hardness .

Now , the composition of carbon inside the steel has been less compare to the earlier forms of steel to make sure the steel is not corrode easily . The steel present today can be cooled down immediately because less carbon is added in manufacture process , so if want to remain the satisfactory physical  properties of steel . THere are other types f corrosion-resistant steel , steel such as galvanized steel and stainless steel . Zinc is used in coated the Galvanized steel to minimise the corrosion , and there are 10 percent of chromium in the composition of stainless steel to protect ir from rusting .



Steel can be recycle effectively without changing its physical properties in the recycling process . Steel is common uses element in our day life , because lot of the instruement was made from steel , example the scientific instruments , scalpel . This because it was economical and withstand great tension , steel is used in engineering works and in infrastructure developments like roads , railwaays , bridges , household , vehicles , buildings , stadiums and so on , that why the economic progress of the country is depend on the steel industry .

The broad range of mechanical properties which can be obtained by heat is the main factors which contributing to the utility of steels in the treatment . The easy formability and good ductility will easy the steel to formed a part in any kind of shape when fabrication . The high strength part of steel will be used in service and both of these material properties are get from the same material .

All of the steel can be bend to some degree , but ability of bended have to depend on the chemical composition of the particular steel . It is necessary to heating and hod at suitable temperature then cooling at suitable rate to in the annealing process .

In the same way , steels can be hardened or strengthened by the accomplished cold treating and heat treating or appropriate combination of this two process.


The low carbon alloyed steels and highly alloyed austenitic stainless teels can be strengthen by the cold working . The carbon low alloyed steels have reasonable high strength but highly alloyed like austenitic stainless steels can be cold worked rather to high strength level .  Therfore most of the steels are supplied to specified minimum strength levels to prevent any unwanted phenomenon occurs .

The remainder steels can be strengthening by the heat treating . There are several types of examples for heat treatment of steels :

1. Martensitic Hardening
2. Pearlitic Transformation
3. Aus-tempering
4. Age hardening