There’s no denying that both alloy steel and carbon steel are extremely useful metals and are very popular among Xometry customers from a wide range of industries, but they’re so similar that it can be hard to know the difference so you can choose between them. They’re both strong, hard, and durable, and can be heat-treated to improve these factors. They’re both mainly made up of iron, with small amounts of other elements like carbon, chromium, molybdenum, manganese, and nickel. As if that’s not confusing enough, they can both be made in many different grades that each has its own set of unique benefits.
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With all these similarities you could be inclined to believe that these metals are interchangeable, but you’d have to think again. There are some important differences that make them more or less suitable than the other in certain applications. We explain more about each of these steels further down and have even prepared a table that pits alloy steel and carbon steel against each other to see how they fare.
Alloy steel has carbon along with other alloying elements in it, like aluminum, chromium, copper, manganese, nickel, silicon, or titanium. These other elements lend their strengths to the alloy steel, be it hardness, corrosion resistance, or durability. It’s suitable for high-temperature applications and is a common material in construction, automotive, aerospace, petrochemical, and power plants. Just a few of the parts it’s used for are gears, shafts, and axles.
Although there are many different steel alloy types, these generally fall into two categories: low-alloy steel and high-alloy steel. Low-alloy types are the most commonly used, popular in construction for pipes and beams. These are the alloys that will have carbon, manganese, silicon, copper, molybdenum, and/or nickel. They are ductile, but a bit weaker than other types.
High-alloy steel types have more than 5% of other elements (like chromium, vanadium, or tungsten) in them, which makes them extra strong and hard. They’re used for car and machinery parts, and in sectors like power generation, and chemical processing.
Steel is a renowned material gaining popularity because of its exceptional properties in industries worldwide. It is involved in the manufacturing of unlimited components because of its superb qualities and properties.
It is categorized into various types depending on the variations in its alloying elements. These variations make them suitable for specific types of applications.
In addition, when comparing, differences in composition result in an incredible difference in their properties. This article is about the complete detail of both steels and their significant difference.
It is the main category of steel containing different alloy compositions, and various alloying elements are combined, resulting in the formation of alloy steel. These alloying elements exhibit specific properties that, as a whole, become the properties of alloy steel. Some of its major alloying elements include the following.
Each alloying element impacts alloy steel differently, providing it with definite properties. As a result, these properties make it an ideal choice for manufacturing durable and corrosion-resistant components. Thus, you can choose a steel alloy containing a particular alloying element for your specific type of project.
It proves better than carbon steel and has more corrosion resistance. These alloys increase mechanical properties, such as corrosion resistance, etc. You can use this steel alloy in various industrial components, including structural steel, pipelines, construction equipment, pressure vessels, etc.
HSLA or micro-alloyed steel comprises alloying elements that provide exceptional physical and mechanical properties, such as titanium, copper, silicon, vanadium, etc. You may need help in forming the HSLA steel. The reason behind this is its greater strength.
But, you can increase its forming ability by adding elements. Thus, adding such elements allows you to form it for your specific project’ completion quickly. You can use this alloy steel type in seat mechanisms, chassis, suspension systems, wheels, etc.
Manufacturing such steel alloys may cost you a lot. In addition, you may also face different challenges while machining it for manufacturing various products.
It provides numerous manufacturing applications due to its high alloy content. You can use this steel alloy for power generator equipment, chemical processing, structural parts, etc.
Stainless steel is high-alloy steel and provides applications in various surgical instruments and pharmaceutical and chemical industries. It has three other types:
It is good for cutlery, surgical instrument, and turbines as it has less corrosion resistance and high hardness.
It can’t be hardened in heat-treated processes and uses in automotive and industrial industries. It can resist oxidation, cracking, and corrosion.
It is used for architectural and mining sectors and has high strength, corrosive liquids, and formability.
AHSS alloying elements provide it with greater strength. Moreover, you can also quickly form it during manufacturing because of its high formability. It is a perfect choice for automotive manufacturing components.
It is a steel alloy having an alloying element with a more significant percentage of nickel. It offers substantial ductility and toughness, making it a good fit for some industries. Its applications in the manufacturing of various weapons in aerospace industries are appreciable.
It contains carbon, and this element provides superior hardness and strength. The more significant percentage of carbon makes it stiffer compared to the other types of steel, making it perfect for construction on a large scale.
Companies worldwide manufacture massive steel because of its lower manufacturing cost.
It is the ideal steel widely used in manufacturing because of its benefits and properties. It is mainly involved in 90% production of steel.
They can easily undergo CNC and other machining processes as they offer less strength. These steels are commonly soft and weak.
Medium carbon steels are categories with strong steel, but it is difficult to weld and cut these types of carbon steel. Its carbon content ratio is 0.3% to 0.6%, and has good wear resistance.
With more than 0.6% of carbon content, this type of carbon steel shows high wear resistance and hardness qualities. Their percentage of carbon is more significant. The abundant amounts of carbon make it stronger but hard to machine.
The content quantity is much higher than other elements, making it a more robust material. Being stronger steel, it is challenging to machine.
Their physical and mechanical properties are the leading cause of choosing the best material.
The composition of alloy steel has a higher number of alloying elements such as molybdenum, chromium, etc. In carbon steel, the total composition has more carbon as the primary alloying element.
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Alloy steel corrosion-resistant can be more intensified while adding more percentage of alloying elements. Reasonable wear and tear resistance make it suitable for various functions. Carbon steel corrosion-resistant property enhanced with the increase of carbon contents. It has less wear and tear resistance than steel.
Alloy steel has less durability, so it can not be fit for long-term use. Its low durability is due to the absence of carbon and the presence of other alloying elements. Carbon steel has more durability, which ensures its long-term performance. It has excellent durability due to its carbon content.
A significant quantity of alloying elements causes the heavier weight of alloy steel. Carbon steel contains fewer alloying elements making it lightweight.
The machinability rate of alloy steel is much higher than carbon steel. You may not need extra care or handling while machining alloy steel as it is accessible to the machine.
Carbon steel offers less machinability because of being an incredibly tougher material. Machining carbon steel may require proper care and handling to prevent damage due to mishandling.
Alloy steels offer less weldability than carbon steel. The presence of alloying elements makes it less weldable. In carbon steel, the less number of alloying elements are present. Therefore it’s highly weldable.
Alloy steel tensile strength is higher. Thus, it can bear more stress without undergoing deformation.
Its tensile strength is up to 960 MPa. Carbon steel’s tensile strength is 450 MPa.
The yield strength is its capacity to withstand the maximum force without undergoing deformation. On the other hand, carbon steel’s yield strength is the total force it can tolerate without changing its shape.
By measuring the tensile strength of alloy steel, you can measure the total amount of energy it can withstand. In contrast, by measuring the tensile strength of carbon steel, you will learn about the entire force that carbon steel can bear without deforming.
Alloy steel is considered good material due to its easy-forming abilities. Its outstanding formability is due to its low strength, toughness, and hardness. Carbon steel has low forming ability than alloy steel. It has higher strength, toughness, and hardness, resulting in less formability.
Alloy steel has a high melting point making it capable of withstanding high heat. Its higher melting points are mainly due to its various additional alloying elements. Carbon steel has fewer melting points than alloy steel.
It has fewer alloying elements than alloy steel.
The steel is grey and silver, and you can see alloy steel and carbon steel in different colors. The color does not affect the function and properties of steel. So, remember that color can not change the performance or functionality of your components.
The hardness of alloy steel is higher than carbon steel, which can be increased with a heat-treated procedure. It is a soft alloy as the presence of alloying elements other than carbon reduces its hardness.
You can find alloy steel softer, and its softness makes it suitable for al purpose machining processes. Carbon steel is not easy to machine, and you need extra power for machining.
Alloy steel is not cheap compared to other alloys, and you may find its rate very high. So, those looking for a budget-friendly material must not go for alloy steel.
In contrast, carbon steel is found at cheaper rates. The percentage of alloying elements and carbon, availability of raw materials, and manufacturing and investment costs may also affect their prices.
Let’s take a look at its typical applications.
It is an incredibly brilliant material with a cheap rate, high strength, and toughness and can be utilized in manufacturing. Its most notable applications are described below.
Here are the most noticeable weaknesses of alloy steel.
Carbon steel provides numerous benefits, which are as under.
The main disadvantages of carbon steel are as follows.
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