Alloy Steel Facts

Types

• All types of steel contain iron and carbon. The three types of commercial steel are plain carbon, low-alloy and high-alloy steels. Plain carbon steel contains iron and less than 1 percent carbon.

Identification

• Low-alloy steel usually contains less than 0.25 percent carbon and alloys of chromium, nickel, molybdenum or tungsten. An example of high-alloy steel is stainless steel, which is high in nickel and chromium content.

Function

• Alloy steels offer high tensile strength and ductility, which allows them to be manipulated into wires or sheets without breaking.

Benefits

• By changing the alloys or varying the amounts, manufacturers can create an wide variety of alloy steels tailored to specific uses, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (ASIS).

Identification

• The ASIS classifies alloy steels with a four-digit number. The first two numbers identify the main alloy and the last two indicate the percentage of carbon present.