Can you imagine a world without modern mega-structures? It would not look modern in any way. Steel is the most popular material used in construction projects. You need it for small and large-scale projects as reinforcing material for concrete and other materials. It also comes in handy for making the tools used in masonry and building. Indeed, steel can only deliver this amount of versatility and reliability because of its amazing intrinsic qualities. Notably, carbon steel is a material you can count on because it contains the carbon, which is a versatile atom. The amount of carbon contained in steel is usually less than two percent, but it is enough to make steel your number one choice. The following piece discusses the properties and uses of carbon steel:

Defining Carbon Steel

Steel is not a basic metal, contrary to what many people think. It is a combination of several metals dominated by iron. Iron is not popular for construction purposes because of its high susceptibility to rust. Subjecting the iron to lots of heat changes its chemical structure and allows other elements such as carbon to slip into the equation. The carbon changes the properties of the steel. Additional elements, such as manganese, also come into play.

High-Carbon Steel

Steel with a high amount of carbon is high-carbon steel. The percentage of carbon ranges from 0.6 to 1 percent. Usually, manufacturers process high-carbon steel to deliver extreme strength and an excellent ability to stand up to wear. This makes it ideal for making cookware and other equipment that can work in harsh environments. A good example is a large-scale stove designed for running a busy restaurant. It is also worth noting that high-carbon steel doesn't rate so well when it comes to ductility, which is the ability to stretch into a wire.

Tool-Carbon Steel

The name here gives you a hint of the purpose of the material. Tool carbon steel has extreme hardness and a lesser ability to withstand rust compared to high-carbon steel. Tool carbon steel is used for making tools used for tough applications. Examples include cutting edges for 4-in-1 agricultural buckets, shearing blades, knives and punch awls.

Low-Carbon Steel

Steel also has a soft side. That is what low-carbon steel stands for. These types of steel have very low amounts of carbon, as less as 0.2 percent. This makes them have little strength and excessive softness. However, they stand out in ductility. The ductility makes it great for machining and welding at relatively low costs. They come in handy for making products like air conditioning ducts.