Carbon steel, also known as carbon steel, is an alloy composed primarily of iron and carbon, with a carbon content typically between 0.0218% and 2.11%. In addition to iron and carbon, carbon steel may also contain small amounts of silicon, manganese, sulfur, phosphorus and other elements. The content of these elements has an important effect on the properties and quality of carbon steel. Carbon steel can be divided into low carbon steel, medium carbon steel and high carbon steel according to the different carbon content, in which the higher the carbon content, the higher the hardness and strength of carbon steel, but the plasticity will be reduced accordingly. 12
The smelting of carbon steel is usually carried out in a converter or open furnace, and the converter is mostly used for smelting ordinary carbon steel, while the open furnace is suitable for smelting a variety of high-quality carbon steel. Carbon steel is generally used directly in the hot rolled state, but in the manufacture of tools and various machine parts, heat treatment is required according to the requirements of use. 1
Carbon steel has a wide range of applications, including but not limited to Bridges, construction, machine building, shipbuilding, automobile manufacturing, oil pipelines and other industries. According to the different uses, carbon steel can be divided into ordinary carbon structural steel, high-quality carbon structural steel, carbon tool steel and free cutting structural steel. The carbon content of ordinary carbon structural steel is less than 0.8%, and it has good mechanical properties and processing properties. 34
In addition, the chemical composition and properties of carbon steel are also affected by other elements such as silicon, manganese, sulfur, phosphorus, and so on. For example, silicon can improve work hardening performance and reduce high temperature brittleness; Manganese can improve strength and toughness; Although sulfur reduces plasticity and ductility, it can improve cutting performance. Phosphorus increases strength and hardness, but decreases plasticity and toughness. 7
In general, carbon steel is a low cost, good plasticity, widely used in a variety of mechanical and building materials of steel materials, its performance and application depends on its carbon content and other elements of the composition.