Introduction

Carbon steel and stainless steel are one of the commonly used steels, and both are commonly used industrial materials. And both are mostly used in construction and mechanical raw materials. However, there are certain differences between the two, including but not limited to composition, performance and application. Carbon steel and stainless steel are one of the materials that newcomers to the industrial industry must understand.
Below we will give a detailed introduction to the performance, chemical composition and mechanical properties of the two materials. I hope it can help newcomers who are just getting started understand the similarities and differences between the two materials.

What is carbon steel?

Carbon steel is a steel material that mainly contains carbon, in addition to carbon, there are other alloying elements. But its carbon content is generally between 0.05%-2.1%. But according to its carbon content, it is also divided into low carbon steel, medium carbon steel and high carbon steel.

1. Low carbon steel

Carbon content: between 0.05%-0.3%
Mechanical properties: Due to the low carbon content, the hardness is low but the ductility is good.
Common applications: mostly used in building structures, automotive parts and pipelines.

2. Medium carbon steel

Carbon content: between 0.3%-0.6%
Mechanical properties: slightly higher carbon content, relatively good hardness and ductility.
Common applications: mostly used for some fine parts such as automobiles and machinery.

3. High carbon steel

Carbon content: between 0.6%-2.1%
Mechanical properties: high hardness and wear resistance. But poor plasticity and brittle
Common applications: mostly used for some

What is stainless steel?

Stainless steel is an alloy material containing chromium metal, in which the chromium content is about 10.5%. Stainless steel has strong anti-corrosion and anti-rust properties because the chromium in it reacts with oxygen in the environment to form a protective oxide layer.

The following are some common stainless steel specifications:

1. Austenitic stainless steel

Composition: Chromium (Cr): 16%~26%, Nickel (Ni): 6%~22%
Performance: corrosion resistance, strong mechanical properties
Application: mostly used in medical devices and food industries that require high mechanical properties.

2. Ferritic stainless steel

Composition: Chromium (Cr): 10.5%~30%, nickel (Ni) content is low or no nickel
Performance: Corrosion resistance is at a medium level, but magnetism is strong. So the price is relatively appropriate.
Application: Mostly used in building decoration and automobile exhaust systems.

3. Martensitic stainless steel

Composition: Chromium (Cr): 12%~18%, Carbon (C): 0.1%~1.2%, nickel (Ni) content is low.
Performance: Corrosion resistance is average, but it is relatively hard
Application: Mostly used in places where high hardness is required, such as: knives, bearings and valves.

4. Duplex stainless steel

Composition: It is composed of two phases of austenite (Austenite) + ferrite (Ferrite)
Performance: High strength and high corrosion resistance.
Application: Mostly used in marine engineering and chemical plants.

The main difference between carbon steel and stainless steel

1. Composition:

The main components of carbon steel are iron and carbon, with a small amount of trace elements such as manganese and silicon.
The main component of stainless steel is chromium, and it contains different amounts of nickel, molybdenum, titanium and other elements depending on the model.

2. Corrosion resistance

Carbon steel: When used in wet or corrosive chemicals, its own corrosion resistance is not good and an anti-corrosion layer needs to be applied.
Stainless steel: It has strong anti-corrosion performance and is suitable for use in wet or corrosive chemicals.

3. Strength and durability

Carbon steel: Different types of carbon steel have different contents. Carbon steel with high carbon content has poor ductility and is more brittle. It is not suitable for places with high pressure impact.
Stainless steel: The carbon content in stainless steel is low, so its ductility is better. Because it contains chromium, its corrosion resistance is also higher.

4. Cost

Carbon steel: Carbon steel is cheaper than stainless steel, but carbon steel is also a good choice where corrosion resistance is not required.
Stainless steel: Stainless steel is more expensive than carbon steel, but it has good corrosion resistance. It can be used longer in corrosive environments.

5. Maintenance

Carbon steel: In corrosive environments, an anti-corrosion layer needs to be applied regularly to prevent rust.
Stainless steel: high corrosion resistance, no need for frequent anti-corrosion coating, only regular maintenance and cleaning are required.

6. Application

Carbon steel: Because of its low corrosion resistance, it is mostly used in low-corrosion environments such as pipeline systems, buildings, and machinery.
Stainless steel: Because of its high corrosion resistance, it is mostly used in medical equipment, kitchen supplies and marine chemical industries.

7. Workability

Carbon steel: Compared with stainless steel, its hardness is relatively low, so it is easy to form.
Stainless steel: Compared with carbon steel, it has a higher hardness and is more difficult to form. Therefore, some special techniques are required to form it.

Choose between carbon steel and stainless steel

In specific use, it is necessary to choose whether to use stainless steel or carbon steel. The following are several aspects for reference:
Environment: Stainless steel is a better choice in a corrosive environment.
Budget: In a non-corrosive environment, the cost price of carbon steel is more advantageous.
Strength requirements: High carbon steel can be compared with stainless steel, but it is in a low-corrosion environment.
Durability requirements: Stainless steel is more durable.

Summary

Stainless steel and carbon steel both have their own advantages and disadvantages. The specific choice depends on the use environment and the performance of the finished product. In a dry and non-corrosive environment, the price of carbon steel is relatively cheap. However, in a highly corrosive environment, stainless steel is obviously a good choice.
The above is our general introduction to stainless steel and carbon steel. I hope it can help you understand the two materials. If you have any other questions, please call us.