Steel Products

And
Effects of contents on Steel
ROD: Usually rounds, supplied as hot wound irregular coils. Material supplied in coil
is comparatively easy to handle both by the manufacturer and user. The sizes
generally range from 5 to 16 mm diameter although large sizes up to 40mm are also
supplied.
BAR: Bars of regular cross section (round, square, hexagon) supplied in straight
lengths, sheared to assist in storage and despatch. Uncoiled and straightened wire rod
is also classified as bar.

SECTIONS: Size range dependent upon the physical size of the equipment, as it is
generally difficult to run small product through plant designed for larger products.
Normally a bar mill (supplied with the correct feedstock) could accommodate
sections (in mm) of sizes:

Angle 25 x 25 to 100 x 100

Channel 50 x 25 to 100 x 50
Flat 30 x 5 to 150 x 25
BLACK BAR: The as rolled product of the hot rolling mill

TURNED (PEELED) BAR: Steel bars of round cross section having special features
concerning shape, dimensional accuracy and surface finish. The removal of surface
metal by turning (peeling) is carried out in such a way that the bright product is free
from rolling defects and decarburisation.

GROUND / POLISHED BAR: Bars of round cross section with an improved surface
quality and dimensional accuracy brought about by deep grinding or grinding and
polishing.

DRAWN BAR: Bars of various cross section produced by drawing of descaled bars on
a draw bench (cold deformation without removal of material). The operation gives
dimensional accuracy and surface finish, in addition the process causes an hardening
effect from the cold working, this can be eliminated by subsequent heat treatment.
1. Low Carbon 0.07 - 0.15% C. The lowest carbon steels are generally used where
the material is required to withstand excessive cold working, e.g. rod and wire for
nails, rivets, fence binding, cable armouring and cheap mattress wire.

2. Mild Steel 0.1 - 0.25% C. Used for drop forging, stampings, section steel for joists,
channels and angles, ship and boiler plate, bright drawing and eventually machined
parts and concrete reinforcing.

3. Medium Carbon Steels 0.2 - 0.5% C. For forgings for general engineering purposes,
boiler drums, agricultural tools i.e. forks, spades and hoes, shafts, high tensile tubes,
crane hooks and wire, turbo electric discs, shafts, rotors, die blocks, gears and tyres.
4. High Carbon Steels 0.5 – 1.5% C. These are generally used where the
requirements are resistance to wear and high tensile strength.

For railway lines, tyres, large forging dies, laminated springs for automobiles
and rolling stock, wire ropes, wheel spokes, and hammers for pneumatic
riveters. For saws, mandrels, drills, engine liners, circlips, hammers, keys and
wire. Laminated springs, car bumpers, pneumatic cold chisels, small forging
dies, large dies for cold presses and shear blades. Small cold chisels, punches
and shear blades. Screwing dies, mint dies, axes, picks and milling cutters.
Razors, broaches, gauges, reamers, drills, wood working tools, turning and
planing tools.
Aluminium: The strongest and most commonly used deoxidiser and grain refiner, a
powerful nitrogen scavenger combining with the nitrogen to form very hard carbides.
It increases the resistance to scaling and is therefore added to ferritic heat resisting
steels.

Boron: A strong hardenability agent even in very small amounts. Improves micro-
structure, wear resistance and toughness. Used in tool steels, rollers, sprockets,
crankshafts etc., its formability properties make it useful for body panels.

Carbon: Carbon is inseparable from steel and is therefore not usually defined as an
alloying agent. Carbon is however the most important element for the majority of
steels and has the strongest influence on their properties. In both alloyed and
unalloyed steels the properties can cover a very wide range by selecting carbon
contents ranging from a few hundredths to a full two percentage points.
Chrome: Chromium makes steel, oil and air hardenable. Imparts corrosion and
oxidation resistance, is a good hardenability agent. Improves wear properties and
retains the strength at elevated temperatures. Is used extensively in stainless steels
and tool steels, bearing steels, turbine blades, valves, pumps and cutlery.

Cobalt: Enhanced behaviour to nickel especially high strength, abrasion resistance

and thermal shock, especially at high temperatures as the addition of cobalt inhibits
grain growth. Found in many tool steel grades. This steel grade is not accepted by
atomic energy applications because of cobalt’s ability to absorb neutrons.

Lead: Is used to enhance the properties of free-cutting steels but does so

without detriment to mechanical properties.
Manganese: A de-sulphuriser and de-oxidiser, improves mechanical properties
and refines grain size. Is present in virtually all steel grades to differing amounts.

Moly’: Is a potent hardenability agent, retains strength at high temperatures and

improves corrosion resistance. Is found along with other elements in high speed
tool steels, boiler and pressure vessels, reactors, is also used in marine and acidic
situations.

Nickel: Adds toughness, strength and good wear resistance (especially at sub
zero temperatures) and is useful as a hardenability agent, also provides resistance
from atmospheric corrosion, hence its use in corrosive applications, stainless
steels and cryogenic steels.
Sulphur: Is used to give the ‘free-cutting’ status on machining steels. The addition
of sulphur creates a lubrication effect between the cutting tool and the work piece
moreover the turnings form as chips which break and fall clear of the cutting tool,
does reduce some mechanical properties, and as such is not a desirable element is
some specialised steels.

Titanium: A strong carbide stabiliser, very effective at high temperatures. Found in

stainless steel (grade 409) for exhaust systems and catalytic converters.

Tungsten: Forms hard and stable carbides, good abrasion properties, is the chief
alloy found in high speed steels, tool steels and super alloys.

Vanadium: Promotes a fine grain size, increases hardenability and wear resistance
even at high temperature. Used in tool steels, railway track on curves and bends,
general engineering type steels, and in many aircraft and military steels.