Although the primary metal for carbon steel, stainless steel, and alloy steel is iron, yet these metals are different from one another. The reason for this is this is that each of these metallurgical combinations has different elements along with iron. For example, in the case of carbon steel, carbon is added along with iron.
Similarly, alloy steel is another iron-based mixture that has along with iron other metals like silicon, copper, molybdenum, chromium, nickel, and other similar metals. It is these combinations of minerals that make alloy steel different from carbon steel.
The third type of steel is stainless steel, which is caused by combining iron and chromium. There are certain specific features and usages of these three types of steels, and some of these are as follows:
1. Carbon steel
Carbon steel is considered to have superior strength, which is why it is often used in the aerospace industry and in making aircraft. A lesser quality carbon steel is used to make Carbon steel forged pipe fittings, and Carbon Steel Forged Flanges.
The corrosion-resistant quality of carbon steel makes it ideal for making flanges and fittings. Usually, in this type of carbon steel, the composition is 0.05% to 0.29% Carbon and 0.4% Manganese. This combination of Carbon and Manganese makes this alloy highly malleable. Subsequently, this makes carbon steel ideal to be bent into making pipe fittings and flanges.
2. Alloy steel
As the name suggests, alloy steel consists of metals other than iron in various quantities. Depending upon the amounts of the constituent metals, the tensile strength, the malleability, and the quality of the alloy steel differ. For example, if in a particular type of alloy steel, the quantity of molybdenum is more, then the specific type of alloy steel will have high tensile strength.
This type of alloy steel is ideal for lifting heavy loads. Similarly, if the particular alloy steel has a more significant amount of nickel, then the steel will be completely rustproof. Such quality alloy steel is absolutely corrosion resistant and is extremely strong.
3. Stainless steel
This steel is made by combining iron and chromium. Stainless steel is highly corrosion-resistant. The unique quality of stainless steel is that it is highly durable. The primary ingredients of the alloy are chromium and iron.
Stainless steel is composed of nearly ten to thirty percent of chromium and almost fifty percent iron. The presence of chromium makes the alloy resistant to oxidation. However, the presence of chromium makes stainless steel brittle, unlike alloy steel.
Thus, depending upon the various characteristics of the three different types of steel alloys, the usages of the alloys differ. For example, if carbon and alloy steel is used for industrial purposes such as in the aerospace industry, stainless steel is used in railways, mining, and construction.
However, if you are looking for specific steel items like pipes, flanges, sheets, H-beams, rods, and plates, you should get these from a reputed manufacturer to be assured of the quality of the products.