The difference between carbon steel, steel and stainless steel

Carbon steel, common steel, and stainless steel are all common metallic materials that differ in their composition, properties, and uses.

Carbon steel is a steel with a relatively high carbon content, and its carbon content is generally between 0.2% and 2.1%. Carbon steel has high hardness, high strength, and good wear resistance, but its toughness is poor and it is prone to fracture. Carbon steel is widely used in the manufacture of bearings, gears, machine tool parts, auto parts, etc.

Ordinary steel (also known as low-alloy steel) contains less alloying components, mainly iron and carbon. Ordinary steel has good toughness and plasticity and strong forgeability, but its hardness and strength are low. Ordinary steel is often used in building structures, reinforced concrete, bridges, boilers and other fields.

Stainless steel is a steel containing chromium, which has good corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance. Its main components are other elements such as iron, carbon, chromium and a small amount of nickel. Stainless steel is widely used in high-demand fields such as chemical industry, pharmaceuticals, and food processing.

Although the properties of these metal materials are different, they all have their own unique advantages and application fields. In different applications, choosing the right material can ensure working efficiency and service life.