Introduction

Mild steel is a type of carbon steel and one of the commonly used steel materials. It is mainly used to manufacture steel pipes and fittings, automobiles, machinery, etc. Low carbon steel also has different grades and models. Different models are suitable for different scenarios.
This article will give a detailed introduction to low carbon steel, mainly including its models and grades. And applicable scenarios. Common scenarios will also be introduced so that you can choose according to the required scenarios.

What is Mild steel?

Low carbon steel usually refers to carbon steel with a carbon content of less than 0.3%. Its performance is easier to form and weld. It is mostly used in products with high ductility and strength. It has a wide range of uses and is a commonly used carbon steel in global industry and manufacturing.
The production cost of low carbon steel is lower than that of high carbon steel and alloy steel, but in some products that do not require high toughness, low carbon steel is a suitable and economical choice.

Types of mild grades

Low carbon steel grades are mainly divided according to the carbon content. The following are some common models:

1. ASTM A36

Carbon content: about 0.26%
Application: structural components, building materials, bridges and buildings.
Performance: strong welding and processing performance, and relatively low price. It is one of the relatively widely used low carbon steels.
Specifications: minimum yield strength is 250 MPa (36,000 psi), and tensile strength is between 400-550 MPa (58,000-80,000 psi)

2. ASTM A1011

Carbon content: usually less than 0.12%
Application: cold rolled steel plates, automotive panels, home appliances and machinery.
Features: suitable for products that require smooth surfaces, and its production process is mostly cold rolling and hot rolling. And its strength is not too high.
Specifications: Yield strength: ≥345 MPa, tensile strength: ≥450 MPa

3. S235JR

Carbon content: about 0.16% to 0.2%
Application: building structures, steel frames and infrastructure projects.
Features: S235JR is one of the European standards. This type of low-carbon steel has strong weldability and a wide range of tensile strength. There is no problem at all for some commonly used working structures and non-critical components.
Specifications: Yield strength: ≥235 MPa, tensile strength: 360~510 MPa

4. S275JR

Carbon content: about 0.18% to 0.22%
Application: structural steel applications, construction and shipbuilding.
Features: The strength and toughness are higher than S235JR, and it is more used for heavier structural products. Its structural performance is higher.
Specifications: The yield strength is 275 MPa, and the tensile strength ranges from 410 to 560 MPa.

5. AISI 1018

Carbon content: about 0.18% to 0.23%
Application: mechanical parts, shafts, pins and bolts.
Features: low strength performance. But weldability and toughness are high, and its low carbon steel content is conducive to forming, mostly used in the production of mechanical parts.
Specifications: yield strength is about 280 MPa, and tensile strength ranges from 440 to 780 MPa.

6. Q235 (low carbon steel)

Carbon content: low carbon content ≤0.22%
Application: structural applications, bridges, shipbuilding and machinery.
Features: It is one of the domestic low carbon steel standards and is widely used at home and abroad. The welding performance and strength are very high.
Specifications: Yield strength: ≥235 MPa, tensile strength: 375~500 MPa

7. EN 10025-2 S355

Carbon content: about 0.23%
Application: Structural applications in civil engineering, bridges, cranes and offshore structures.
Features: Due to its good strength and toughness, it is mostly used in buildings and bridges.
Specifications**: The yield strength of this material is 355 MPa and the tensile strength is 470 to 630 MPa.

Characteristics of mild steel

The characteristics of low carbon steel are basically the same as those of ordinary carbon steel. Occasionally, there are some differences, which are also subtle differences in the carbon content of different models.
Here are some characteristics of low carbon steel:
1. Ductility
Its ductility is relatively good, and it is easier to form in products that require bending and stretching of materials. It is not easy to break due to its bending angle and different shapes.

2. High weldability
Low carbon steel does not require high welding process, because its own performance is more conducive to welding, and it is not easy to crack during welding.

3. Corrosion resistance
Low carbon steel has lower corrosion resistance than stainless steel, but when used in some highly corrosive environments, an anti-corrosion layer can be added to protect it from rusting.

4. Strength
The strength is average, not suitable for some high-strength fine parts and mechanical pressure products. These products are mostly made of high carbon steel or alloy and stainless steel.

5. Formability
Due to the low carbon content, it is more conducive to forming. This property is more conducive to the production of products with more complex shapes and more bending angles.

Application of mild steel

Different grades of low carbon steel are used in different fields, mostly for machinery, steel pipes, structural steel, etc. The following are some common models:

ASTM A36: widely used in the construction of buildings, bridges and other structural components.

ASTM A1011: used to produce plates, sheets and coils for automobile, machinery and home appliance manufacturing.
S235JR: Very suitable for manufacturing structural steel, including frames, beams and columns.
S275JR: Commonly used in heavy-duty applications such as shipbuilding, bridge construction and infrastructure projects.
AISI 1018: Used to manufacture shafts, bolts, pins and machine parts that require medium strength and machinability.

How to choose the right mild steel grade

The following 4 aspects need to be considered when choosing low carbon steel:

1. Application: First determine the purpose of the product and the manufacturing process.

2. Strength requirements: Determine the strength and ductility, load-bearing capacity, etc. required by the product.

3. Environmental conditions: The environment in which the product is used, whether it is an ordinary environment, or an underwater or highly corrosive environment. For high corrosion, whether an anti-corrosion layer needs to be added.

4. Cost: The prices of low carbon steel of different grades and models are slightly different. Choose a more suitable model based on the above factors.

Summary

Low carbon steel has a wide range of uses and many material models. The yield strength and tensile strength of different models are also different. You need to choose a more suitable raw material model based on the specific use.
The types and characteristics of low carbon steel are mentioned above, and we hope it will help you choose the right material. If you need more detailed information, or you need related steel pipes and pipe fittings, you are also welcome to contact us for information purchase.