PLAIN CARBON STEEL

Good Machinability. Cost-Effective. Optimize Your Projects with Plain Carbon Steel.

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Benefits of Plain Carbon Steel

Find the Benefits of Plain carbon steel

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Types of Plain Carbon Steel

Learn about the Type of Plain carbon steel

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Industries & Applications

Explore industries benefiting from Plain carbon steel.

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Dimensions & Properties

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Introduction to Plain Carbon Steel

Plain carbon steel, also known as carbon steel, is a type of steel that contains a small percentage of carbon and trace amounts of other elements. The carbon content typically ranges from 0.05% to 2.0%. This steel grade balances ductility and strength, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. Plain carbon steel has a yield strength of approximately 250 to 500 MPa and an ultimate tensile strength between 400 to 750 MPa. Heat treatment processes, such as tempering and quenching, can be applied to improve its hardness and mechanical properties.

This type of steel is considered highly weldable and has moderate hardenability. Its market acceptance is high because its price is relatively low and it provides material properties that are acceptable for many applications. Plain carbon steel is widely used in construction, automotive, and manufacturing industries.

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Benefits of Plain Carbon Steel

Plain carbon steel offers several significant advantages:
- Cost-Effectiveness: Its price is relatively low compared to alloy steels, making it a popular choice for many applications.
- Weldability: Excellent weldability due to its low carbon content, making it suitable for various construction and manufacturing processes.
- Versatility: Can be used in a wide range of applications due to its balanced mechanical properties.
- Ductility: High ductility allows it to be formed into different shapes and sizes without breaking.
- Heat Treatment: Responds well to heat treatment processes like quenching and tempering, allowing for adjustments in hardness and toughness.
- Availability: Widely available and produced in large quantities by steel plants, ensuring consistent supply for various industries.

Types of Plain Carbon Steel

Plain carbon steel comes in various grades, each designed for specific applications:
- Low-Carbon Steel (Mild Steel): Contains less than 0.3% carbon. Known for its high ductility and weldability, it’s used in structural applications and for forming properties.
- Medium-Carbon Steel: Contains 0.3% to 0.6% carbon. Offers a good balance of strength and toughness, used in machinery parts and automotive components.
- High-Carbon Steel: Contains 0.6% to 1.0% carbon. Known for its high hardness and wear resistance, it’s used in cutting tools and springs.
- AISI 1018: Contains approximately 0.18% carbon. It has good weldability and is often used for manufacturing gears, bolts, and other machinery parts.
- AISI 1040: Contains about 0.40% carbon. Known for its higher strength and hardness, used in crankshafts and couplings.
- AISI 1095: Contains 0.95% carbon. High hardness and wear resistance make it suitable for blades and cutting tools.
- AISI 1215: Contains about 0.09% to 0.12% carbon and added sulfur for improved machinability. Commonly used in high-speed automatic screw machine products.

Industries & Applications

Plain carbon steel can be used in a variety of industries and applications, as it is a very versatile and commonly used form of steel.

Some common industries and applications include:

Construction Industry

Used for structural applications such as beams, columns, and reinforcing bars due to its high strength and formability.

Automotive Industry

Utilized in manufacturing car bodies, chassis, and other components that require a balance of strength and ductility.

Manufacturing

Commonly used in producing machinery parts, tools, and equipment due to its machinability and mechanical properties.

Tool Making

Preferred for hand tools and cutting instruments because of its ability to harden and retain sharp edges.

Railways

Employed in the production of rail tracks and other components that need high wear resistance and durability.

Agriculture

Used in making farming equipment and tools that require toughness and resistance to wear and tear.

Dimensions & Properties (Sheet & Plate from Coil)

Whether steel qualifies as plate or sheet depends on the specification used for certification. There is a large overlap in popular thicknesses between plate and sheet, but steel plates are offered in a much broader range of sizes.[table id=1 /]