What is carbon steel?
Q: What is carbon steel?
A: Carbon steel is a metal alloy that is made up of two elements, iron and carbon.
Q: Are there any other elements that can be present in plain-carbon steel?
A: Yes, other elements such as manganese (1.65% max), silicon (0.60% max), and copper (0.60% max) can be present in small quantities.
Q: What are the properties of plain-carbon steel with low carbon content?
A: Plain-carbon steel with low carbon content has the same properties as iron - it is soft and easily formed.
Q: How does the addition of more carbon affect the properties of carbon steel?
A: The addition of more carbon makes the metal gain hardness and strength but it becomes less ductile and more difficult to weld.
Q: Is there a limit to the amount of manganese that can be present in plain-carbon steel?
A: Yes, the maximum amount of manganese that can be present in plain-carbon steel is 1.65%.
Q: Does a higher carbon content affect steel's melting point?
A: Yes, a higher carbon content lowers steel's melting point.
Q: Does a higher carbon content affect steel's temperature resistance in general?
A: Yes, a higher carbon content also lowers steel's temperature resistance in general.
