Steel and carbon steel are two different kinds of alloys that we use in our daily lives. Both of them are alloys, so they are somehow confused. The two terms are co-related as carbon steel is a type of steel. There are many key differences between the two terms.
Steel vs Carbon Steel
The main difference between steel and carbon steel is that steel is an alloy of iron while carbon steel is a metal alloy with a content of carbon in it. Steel has a very low carbon content which is put in just to strength of steel. On the other hand, carbon steel has larger amounts of carbon content in it as compared to steel.
Steel is an alloy. It is made up of iron. Carbon content is added only a few tenths in percentage. Though not only carbon is added, the content of manganese and silicon is also added. Steel is divided into many sub-divisions based on the properties, characteristics, and quality.
Carbon steel is a type of steel with more weight of carbon content added to it. The carbon percentage in carbon steel by weight is about 0.05 to 2.1 percent. Carbon content added to it increases its strength and hardness. Carbon steel is not stainless steel, which is a term it is confused with.
Comparison Table Between Steel And Carbon Steel
| Parameters of Comparison | Steel | Carbon Steel |
| Definition | Steel is an alloy with iron as the base element. | Carbon steel is a type of steel with more percentage of carbon content in it. |
| Carbon Content | Steel has a carbon content of only a few tenths of a percentage. | Carbon steel has a carbon content of about 0.05 to 2.1 percent by weight. |
| Corrosion Resistance | Steel has a certain resistance against corrosion. | Carbon steel has poor corrosion resistance. |
| Strength | Steel has lower strength as compared to carbon steel. | Carbon steel has high strength. |
| Cost | Steel is costly than carbon steel. | Carbon steel is cheaper as compared to steel. |
What is Steel?
Steel is an alloy. The main element or the base metal of steel is iron. Some other elements are also added in low quantities like carbon, silicon, manganese, etc. The carbon content in steel is only a few tenths of a percentage. This low carbon content is added to improve the strength of the steel as well as fracture resistance.
Steel is alloyed with many elements to increase its properties. Elements like chromium, nickel, molybdenum, etc. are added as well. Final steel is made by varying the amount of these elements and controlling their physical and chemical composition. The adding of other elements in proportionate quantity enhances properties like strength, hardness, ductility, yield strength, tempering behavior, etc.
Steel makes the largest industry in the world, almost 1.6 billion tons of steel is produced every year. Steel is used in infrastructure, ships, railways, machines, cars, tools as well as weapons. Steel is divided into its types based on its properties. The main four types of steel are carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, and tool steel.
Iron is smelted from its ore and is reprocessed to make steel. During the reprocessing, the carbon content is reduced and other elements are added. The carbon content is reduced as the iron extracted from its ore has more quantity of carbon than required.
What is Carbon Steel?
Carbon steel is a type of steel with more percentage of carbon content added to it. The percentage of carbon content by weight which is added to it is about 0.05 to 2.1. More added carbon content increases the hardness and strength of the steel. It also makes it less ductile and less malleable. Also, it reduces the weldability and melting point of the steel. Carbon content added increases the strength although it also leaves elasticity.
Because of its increased strength, carbon steel is used more. Carbon steel makes the major share in the production of steel. Utensils like pans, pots, etc are made of carbon steel. Caron steel also exhibits ferromagnetism which is why it is used widely in the making of electrical appliances and parts of automobiles.
Carbon steel doesn’t have a luster finish. Also, it has poor rust resistance therefore it requires an extra protective coating in a corrosive environment.
According to the AISI classification, carbon steel is divided into four types based on the carbon content: Low-carbon steel, Medium-carbon steel, High-carbon steel, and Ultra high-carbon steel. Low-carbon steel has a carbon content of about 0.05 to 0.25%. Similarly, medium carbon steel has 0.3–0.5%, high-carbon steel has 0.6 to 1.0% and Ultra-high carbon has 1.25–2.0% of carbon content.
Main Differences Between Steel And Carbon Steel
- In steel, the carbon content is low and other elements are also added. In carbon steel, the carbon content is more in percentage as compared to steel.
- Steel has low strength as compared to carbon steel.
- Steel is also less hard as compared to carbon steel.
- Steel is more ductile as compared to carbon steel.
- Steel has high weldability as compared to carbon steel. The carbon content in carbon steel reduces weldability.
- Steel has a higher melting point as compared to carbon steel.
Conclusion
Steel is an alloy of iron with many other elements added to it in a low quantity. Steel is used in the making of various tools which we use in day-to-day life. Even steel is used to make the rods which are used to hold the infrastructure of the buildings. Steel is used widely because of its properties, strength, ductility, and hardness, etc.
Carbon steel is a type of steel with carbon content in it. The carbon content is added to it by weight about 0.05 to 2.1 percent. The carbon content added to it increases the strength and reduces the melting point of the steel. There are four types of carbon steel. Low-Carbon steel is also known as plain-carbon steel. The carbon content added to the steel makes it stronger as well as less ductile.
References
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10853-010-5207-8
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0254058415001510