Steel is a type of iron alloy that has a much lower carbon content than Wrought Iron or Cast Iron, as we discussed in a previous blog. The first thing to remember about steel is that it’s made from Iron. There are also thousands of different types of steels formulated and made to perform specific tasks under various working conditions. Conveniently, these can be grouped into 4 general classes of steels.

Carbon Steels

The most common of the steels, Carbon Steels represent about 80-90% of the steels produced worldwide. They usually contain less than 1% carbon and are softer and easier to form than other classes of steel. They may also be known as low carbon steel, mild steel, or common steel.

Carbon steels with more than 1% carbon are known as “High Carbon Steel” or CAST-IRON and they tend to be hard and brittle. Carbon Steels are used in many everyday products such as car bodies, ship hulls, steel cans, and more.

Alloy Steels

Like carbon steels, Alloy Steels also contain iron and carbon, but also feature other alloys such as copper, chromium, manganese, nickel, and vanadium. They’re formulated to achieve a specific purpose: these alloys make them stronger, harder, tougher, and more durable than carbon steels.

Many alloy steels are “toughened up” through heat treatment, quenching, and tempering to improve wear, impact resistance, gouging and tearing. Alloy steels are often used in shot blast cabinets, mining ore pockets, grizzlies, screens, armor plating, and truck box liners.

Tool Steels

This type of steel is usually very hard and, as you might have guessed by its name, Tool Steels, they’re often used to make tools (i.e. punching, cutting and drilling) as well as dies and machine parts. They’re made from iron and carbon with added alloys such as nickel, molybdenum or tungsten.

Many tool steels, such as Titus Steel’s Toolox 44 steel, are also subjected to heat treatment, quenching and tempering to improve hardness and durability. Despite a hardness of 45 HRC, Toolox 44 steel is actually quite easy to machine, and is best suited for plastic molds, guide rails, and bending tools.

Stainless Steels

The most familiar steel to most people is probably Stainless Steel, as it’s used to make many everyday items such as cutlery, scissors, and medical equipment. In addition to iron and carbon, they contain a high proportion of chromium and nickel, which resists corrosion and other chemical reactions.

The chromium atoms react with oxygen in the air to form a kind of protective outer skin that stops oxygen and water from attacking the iron atoms, thereby preventing rust and corrosion.

Wear Resistant Steels

If you’re looking for a high-degree wear resistant steel, ENDURA, ENDURA Dual, and Titus Manganese steel are unique alloy steels that can provide that thanks to their formulations. The formulations of ENDURA and ENDURA Dual are so unique that they have actually been patented. There is no other comparable wear resistant steel that provide this level of high wear resistance and long-lasting durability.

Contact Titus Steel today to find the right wear resistant steel for your needs.