Steel Basics

Steel components combine with other elements to produce several commercial and industrial items

Steel is one of the most important components of any construction or engineering project, as well as commercial products. Steel is primarily alloy or carbon-based, but it also contains small amounts of manganese, silicon, sulfur, oxygen and phosphorus. Other common chemicals used to make steel include chromium, molybdenum, aluminum and nickel. Steel comes in more than 3,000 grades, all reflecting different physical and chemical properties.

Common categories for steel include carbon, alloy and specialty steels such as stainless. Since carbon steel is malleable, steel fabricators can use it during welding, casting, forming and other machining operations. Alloy steels tend to be higher in strength and hardness, and are used in most end products. Stainless steel alloys are strong specialty metals that form through a cold-working process. They are also magnetic or non-magnetic, and corrosion- and oxidation-resistant. Stainless specialty steels are made up of elements such as chromium, nickel and manganese. When looking for carbon, alloy steels and specialty steels for your product or application:

1. Identify where to shop for different types of specialty steels.

2. Work with steel fabricators or steel manufacturers to customize your materials or end products.

3. Find industry compliant steel machinery or steel processing services.

 

Shop for different types of steel from suppliers

Add to your inventory steel basics such as alloy steels, carbon steels and other specialty steels for various uses.
Try: Flat-rolled, chemically and non-chemically treated steel can be found at Pacesetter Steel Service. Suburban Steel specializes in cold-rolled and hot-rolled steel in round, square, flat and hex shapes. The steel supplier also produces high-strength, low-alloy and carbon specialty steels. Alloy steels such as carbon, tool steels, stainless and structural steel are available at Continental Steel & Tube.

Consult with steel manufacturers or fabricators to get the materials you need

Steel cutting, polishing and heat-treating are some of the services that may be required to finish a project.
Try: Steel fabricator Pioneer Steel does services such as flame-cutting, shearing and steel surface finishing. AK Steel distributes carbon, electrical, stainless and antimicrobial-coated steel. Services include casting, carbon and specialty steels melting and stainless steel processing.

Seek industry compliant steel, or search for steel suppliers to ensure quality products

Find quality tool steels, alloy steels and specialty steels that are safe to handle.
Try: Certified steel supplier MST Steel works with high-strength, coated, galvanized and electroplated materials. Steel manufacturer Combined Metals of Chicago also produces certified nickel, stainless steel and titanium alloys. Products come as strips and wires. Corrosion-resistant stainless steel is also an option.

 

• Materials to produce steel must meet several industry and compositional standards. Some of these include the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

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