In today's era of rapid technological development and highly developed industry, steel is undoubtedly one of the most important basic materials supporting the operation of the entire world. Its existence is like the cornerstone of a building, and it has penetrated widely and deeply into every corner of our lives. Whether it is a magnificent building rising from the ground, a transportation facility that carries people's travel needs, a sophisticated and complex manufacturing production line, or a power system that brings light and power to our lives, steel plays an indispensable and key role.

However, when we frequently come into contact with various steel products in our daily lives, have we ever stopped and thought about this question: "What is steel made of?"

1. The basic composition of steel

Steel, in essence, is an alloy composed of two elements, iron and carbon. Iron is a common metal element with good ductility, but it is relatively soft. The addition of carbon gives steel higher strength and hardness. The carbon content in steel is generally controlled at 0.02percent~2.1percent. Although the proportion is not high, it plays a decisive strengthening role.

This alloy property makes steel widely used in various occasions with high requirements for strength and toughness. It is the first choice for modern construction steel, structural steel, and mechanical steel.

2. Key alloying elements in steel

In order to further improve performance, the following alloying elements are often added to steel:

Manganese: improves strength and wear resistance, suitable for manufacturing high-strength parts;

Chromium: enhances corrosion resistance and is the core element of stainless steel;

Nickel: improves toughness and high temperature resistance;

Molybdenum: enhances hardening ability and heat resistance;

Silicon and phosphorus: adjust strength, hardness or improve processing performance.

The addition ratio of each element is precisely designed to meet the functional requirements of different steel grades.

3. Main types of steel

Common steel can be divided into the following categories according to different alloy components and uses:

1. Carbon steel

Mainly composed of iron and carbon, with low cost and mature technology. It is widely used in construction, machinery manufacturing and bridge structures, and is an industrial basic steel.

2. Alloy steel

Add elements such as nickel, chromium, and molybdenum to improve heat resistance and strength. It is commonly used in high-performance applications such as high-voltage equipment, automobiles, aerospace, etc.

3. Stainless steel

It has excellent corrosion resistance and is widely used in medical, food, chemical, building curtain walls and other fields. Stainless steel uses chromium as the main element, forming a protective oxide film to prevent rust.

4. Tool steel

Used to manufacture precision tools such as knives and molds. It has high hardness, wear resistance and thermal stability, and is suitable for processing operations such as cutting and stamping.

4. Why is steel so important?

High performance: high strength, good hardness, good wear resistance, suitable for all scenarios from heavy engineering to precision electronics.

Strong plasticity: easy to weld, forge, roll and other processing methods.

Sustainable development materials: steel can be 100percent recycled and reused, in line with the development direction of green and environmental protection industry.

Diverse application areas: covering all key industries such as construction, transportation, energy, manufacturing, medical, and national defense.