Most people refer to IRON as STEEL and STEEL as IRON. However, these are two very different products. Iron or iron ore is the fourth-most abundant element on the planet and can be found and mined in the earth to make various steels, cast iron, wrought iron, high/low alloy steels etc. Iron ore is the base element to make all grades of iron and steels, and is also an essential mineral which helps make hemoglobin in the human body.

What Is Pure Iron?

A silvery-white, relatively soft element, PURE IRON is easy to work with and can be cut with a knife. It can be hammered into sheets, drawn into wire, and conduct heat and electricity very well. However, it readily combines with oxygen, thereby corroding quickly and would be too soft to be of much use.

What Is Pig Iron?

Produced by heating/melting iron ore in a blast furnace, the process for making PIG IRON also includes adding coke (coal) and limestone. The coke absorbs most of the oxygen from the iron ore, which in turn produces chunky blocks known as “pigs”. “Pigs” are a relatively pure form of liquid iron containing 90-95% iron, and 3-5% carbon and other elements that are harder than pure iron.

What Is Cast Iron?

CAST IRON is simply liquid iron or pig iron poured into a casting to make various parts such as cast iron water pipes. The high carbon content (3-5%) makes the iron very hard but also very brittle, which makes it impossible to shape or machine.

What Is Wrought Iron?

Mixing liquid iron with some slag to reduce the carbon content is how you get WROUGHT IRON. It is softer than cast iron so it can be shaped and is less prone to rusting. Relatively little wrought iron is produced today as it has mostly been replaced by steel.

What Is Steel?

STEEL is an alloy or combination of iron and other alloys such as carbon, manganese, nickel, copper etc. To make the desired grade of steel, typically less than 2% carbon is added to iron and the rest is made up of many other elements, including scrap steel.

There are many different types and grades of steel and the names can be confusing, such as: low and high carbon steel, manganese steel, alloy steel, tool steel, stainless steel etc. Basically, they are just another type of iron alloy but with differing amounts of carbon, alloying elements, and heat treatment.

Contact Titus Steel for Wear-Resistant Steel

Titus Steel only distributes and fabricates products that use high alloys, “work-hardening steels” such as TITUS Manganese, ENDURA, and ENDURA Dual.  The company specializes in providing long wearing and wear-resistant steels which are unique. Hit the steels with a hammer and they get harder, hit them again and they get even harder. While they are unique steels, they are still classic steels in the sense that they are made from Iron ore. For more information about what steel is right for your needs, contact Titus Steel today.