Common steel types/grades and common applications

Limited  Time:2026-02-27 16:28  Page View:14
  1. Carbon Steel: Contains only carbon and iron, with trace amounts of other elements. Common grades include:

  • Low Carbon Steel (Mild Steel): Contains up to 0.25% carbon and is easily formable and weldable.

  • Grades: 1008, 1010, 1018, 1022, 10B21.

  • Applications: General-purpose construction, automotive components, machinery, and hardware.

  • Medium Carbon Steel: Contains 0.25% to 0.60% carbon and is stronger than low carbon steel but less ductile. Used in shafts, axles, gears, and structural components requiring higher strength and wear resistance.

  • Grades: 1035, 1038, 1040, 1045.

  • High Carbon Steel: Contains 0.60% to 1.00% carbon and is harder and more wear-resistant but less ductile. Known for its hardness and wear resistance, used in cutting tools and springs and components requiring high hardness and wear resistance..

  • Grades: 1060, 1065, 1080,

  • Applications: Cutting tools, springs, and components requiring high hardness and wear resistance.

  1. Alloy Steel: Contains additional alloying elements such as higher levels of manganese, chromium, nickel, or molybdenum to enhance specific properties like strength, toughness, or corrosion resistance. Common grades include:

  • Grades: 4130, 4140, 4340, 8620, 8640 etc.

  • 4130 Steel: Used in structural frames for aircraft and fasteners for ships, bridges and buildings.

  • 4140 Steel: Known for its high strength, used in machinery and automotive parts such as crankshafts and connecting rods.

  • 4340 Steel: Offers high strength and toughness, used in aircraft components and structural parts.

  • 8620 Steel: Used to produce gears, bushings, bolts & heavy duty pins.

  • 8640 Steel: Manufacturing parts with high strength and resistant to fracture is required.

  • Applications: Components requiring high strength, toughness, and wear resistance, such as gears, shafts, and automotive components.

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  1. Stainless Steel: Contains chromium (10.5% or more), which forms a passive oxide layer on the surface, providing excellent corrosion resistance. Common grades include:

  • Austenitic grades: 304, 316, 316L, etc.

  • Ferritic grades: 409, 430, etc.

  • Martensitic grades: 410, 420, etc.

  • Applications: Automotive muffler hangers and other industrial applications, kitchen utensils, medical equipment.

  1. Weathering Steel: Offering enhanced corrosion resistance when exposed to the weather.

  • Grades: ASTM F3125 Type 3 grades A325 & A490

  • Applications: bridge bolts and guard rails bolts