Carbon Steel: Properties, Production, Examples and Applications
Carbon steel is an iron-carbon alloy, which contains up to 2.1 wt.% carbon. For carbon steels, there is no minimum specified content of other alloying elements, however, they often contain manganese. The maximum manganese, silicon and copper content should be less than 1.65 wt.%, 0.6 wt.% and 0.6 wt.%, respectively.
Types of carbon steel and their properties
Carbon steel can be classified into three categories according to its carbon content: low-carbon steel (or mild-carbon steel), medium-carbon steel and high-carbon steel . Their carbon content, microstructure and properties compare as follows:
| Carbon content (wt.%) | Microstructure | Properties | Examples |
|
| Low-carbon steel | < 0.25 | Ferrite, pearlite | Low hardness and cost. High ductility, toughness, machinability and weldability | AISI 304, ASTM A815, AISI 316L |
| Medium-carbon steel | 0.25 – 0.60 | Martensite | Low hardenability, medium strength, ductility and toughness | AISI 409, ASTM A29, SCM435 |
| High-carbon steel | 0.60 – 1.25 | Pearlite | High hardness, strength, low ductility | AISI 440C, EN 10088-3 |
Carbon Steel Description
Grade:
1)GB: Q195, Q215, Q235A, Q235B, Q235C, Q235D, Q255A, 255B, Q275, Q295A, Q295B, Q345B, Q345C, Q345D, Q345E, Q390A, Q390B, Q390C,Q390D, Q390E, Q420, Q420B, Q420C, Q420D, Q420E, Q460D, Q460E, Q500D, Q500E, Q550D, Q550E, Q620D, Q620E, Q690D, Q690E
2)EN: S185,S235JR, S275JR, S355JR, S420NL, S460NL S500Q, S550Q, S620Q, S690Q
3)ASTM: Grade B, Grade C, Grade D, A36, Grade 36, Grade 40, Grade42, Grade 50, Grade 55, Grade 60, Grade 65, Grade 80
4)JIS: SS330, SPHC, SS400, SPFC, SPHD, SPHE
PRODUCT DETAILS
| A36
Round Steel Bar Description |
| A36 is
a carbon structural steel whose chemical composition and mechanical
properties strictly conform to American ASTM standards. A36 steel bar mainly consists of iron, carbon,
silicon, manganese, phosphorus, sulfur and other elements. Iron constitutes more than 99% of the entire chemical composition. Its carbon content proportion is relatively
high, around 0.2%,
ensuring that the steel has a certain hardness and toughness. The addition of
silicon, manganese and other elements enhances the strength and toughness of
steel. Phosphorus
and sulfur are low so that the steel bar has
good welding performance and corrosion resistance. A36 steel bar is used for
welded, bolted or riveted construction of bridges and buildings, as well as
for general structural purposes. Due to its lowest yield point, A36 can be
used to design lighter-weight structures and equipment, and provide good
weldability. |
| Product Parameters |
| Product Name | A36 Round Steel Bar |
| Standard | EN/DIN/JIS/ASTM/BS/ASME/AISI, etc. |
| Common Round Bar Specifications | 3.0-50.8 mm, Over 50.8-300mm |
| Flat Steel Common Specifications | 6.35x12.7mm, 6.35x25.4mm, 12.7x25.4mm |
| Hexagon Bar Common Specifications | AF5.8mm-17mm |
| Square Bar Common Specifications | AF2mm-14mm, AF6.35mm, 9.5mm, 12.7mm, 15.98mm, 19.0mm, 25.4mm |
| Length | 1-6meters, Size Accept Custom |
| Diameter(mm) | Hot Rolling Round Bar | 25-600 | Cold Rolling Square Bar | 6-50.8 |
| Hot Rolling Square Bar | 21-54 | Cold Rolling Hexagon Bar | 9.5-65 |
| Cold Rolling Round bar | 6-101.6 | Forged Rebar | 200-1000 |
| Surface Process | Bright, Polished, Black |
| Other Services | Machining(cnc), Centerless Grinding(cg), Heat Treatment, Annealing, Pickling, Polishing, Rolling, Forging, Cutting, Bending, Small Machining, etc. |
| Chemical Composition |
| C | Cu | Fe | Mn | P | Si | S |
| 0.25～0.290 | 0.2 | 98 | 1.03 | 0.04 | 0.28 | 0.05 |
| Physical
Performance |
| Physical Performance | Metric | Imperial |
| Density | 7.85 g/cm3 | 0.284 lb/in3 |
| Scope of
Application |
| Bolted,
riveted or welded structures for bridges, buildings and oil drilling rigs. |
| Used
for forming storage tanks, silos, bearing plates, fixtures, rings, templates,
fixtures, sprockets, cams, gears, bottom plates, forgings, decoration
engineering, piles, brackets, automobiles and agricultural equipment, frames,
mechanical parts, etc. |
| Equivalent Material |
| National
Standard GB | European
Standard EN | American
Standard ASTM | German Standard DIN,WNr | Japanese
Standard JIS | French Standard AFNOR | British
Standard BS | Canada HG |
| Q235B | S235JR | A283C | St37-2 | SM400A | E24-2 | 40A/40B | 230G |
| Italy UNI | India IS | Switzerland SS | Australia ONORM | Norway NS | Spain UNE | International Standards ISO | Portugal NP |
| Fe360B | IS2062 | 1311/1312 | RSt360B | NS12123 | AE235B-FN | E235B/Fe360B | FE360-B |