Carbon Steel: Properties, Production, Examples and Applications
Carbon steel is an iron-carbon alloy, which contains up to 2.1 wt.% carbon. For carbon steels, there is no minimum specified content of other alloying elements, however, they often contain manganese. The maximum manganese, silicon and copper content should be less than 1.65 wt.%, 0.6 wt.% and 0.6 wt.%, respectively.
Types of carbon steel and their properties
Carbon steel can be classified into three categories according to its carbon content: low-carbon steel (or mild-carbon steel), medium-carbon steel and high-carbon steel . Their carbon content, microstructure and properties compare as follows:
| Carbon content (wt.%) | Microstructure | Properties | Examples |
| Low-carbon steel | < 0.25 | Ferrite, pearlite | Low hardness and cost. High ductility, toughness, machinability and weldability |
| Medium-carbon steel | 0.25 – 0.60 | Martensite | Low hardenability, medium strength, ductility and toughness |
| High-carbon steel | 0.60 – 1.25 | Pearlite | High hardness, strength, low ductility |
Carbon Steel DescriptionGrade:1)GB: Q195, Q215, Q235A, Q235B, Q235C, Q235D, Q255A, 255B, Q275, Q295A, Q295B, Q345B, Q345C, Q345D, Q345E, Q390A, Q390B, Q390C,Q390D, Q390E, Q420, Q420B, Q420C, Q420D, Q420E, Q460D, Q460E, Q500D, Q500E, Q550D, Q550E, Q620D, Q620E, Q690D, Q690E2)EN: S185,S235JR, S275JR, S355JR, S420NL, S460NL S500Q, S550Q, S620Q, S690Q3)ASTM: Grade B, Grade C, Grade D, A36, Grade 36, Grade 40, Grade42, Grade 50, Grade 55, Grade 60, Grade 65, Grade 804)JIS: SS330, SPHC, SS400, SPFC, SPHD, SPHEPRODUCT DETAILS
| A572 Round Steel Bar Description |
| A572 steel bar is made of a low-carbon, low-alloy high-strength steel employing the electric furnace steelmaking technology. So the main component is scrap iron. Resulting from its reasonable composition design and strict process control, A572 steel bar is widely favored for high purity and excellent performance. Its molten steel pouring manufacturing method not only gives the steel coil good density and uniformity, but also ensures that the steel bar has superior mechanical properties after cooling. A572 carbon steel bar is widely used in construction, bridges, heavy machinery and other fields. At the same time, it shows outstanding performance in welding, forming and corrosion resistance with its low carbon and low alloy characteristics. |
| Product Parameters | | | | |
| Product Name | A572/S355JR Round Steel Bar |
| Standard | EN/DIN/JIS/ASTM/BS/ASME/AISI, etc. |
| Common Round Bar Specifications | 3.0-50.8 mm, Over 50.8-300mm |
| Flat Steel Common Specifications | 6.35×12.7mm, 6.35×25.4mm, 12.7×25.4mm |
| Hexagon Bar Common Specifications | AF5.8mm-17mm |
| Square Bar Common Specifications | AF2mm-14mm, AF6.35mm, 9.5mm, 12.7mm, 15.98mm, 19.0mm, 25.4mm |
| Length | 1-6meters, Size Accept Custom |
| Diameter(mm) | Hot Rolling Round Bar | 25-600 | Cold Rolling Square Bar | 6-50.8 |
| Hot Rolling Square Bar | 21-54 | Cold Rolling Hexagon Bar | 9.5-65 |
| Cold Rolling Round bar | 6-101.6 | Forged Rebar | 200-1000 |
| Surface Process | Bright, Polished, Black |
| Other Services | Machining(cnc), Centerless Grinding(cg), Heat Treatment, Annealing, Pickling, Polishing, Rolling, Forging, Cutting, Bending, Small Machining, etc. |
| A572 | C | Mn | P | S | Si |
| Grade42 | 0.21 | 1.35 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.15~0.4 |
| Grade50 | 0.23 | 1.35 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.15~0.4 |
| Grade60 | 0.26 | 1.35 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.4 |
| Grade65 | 0.23~0.26 | 1.35~1.65 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.4 |
| A572 | Yield Strength(Ksi) | Tensile Strength(Ksi) | Elongation % 8inches |
| Grade42 | 42 | 60 | 20 |
| Grade50 | 50 | 65 | 18 |
| Grade60 | 60 | 75 | 16 |
| Grade65 | 65 | 80 | 15 |
| Physical Performance | Metric | Imperial |
| Density | 7.80g/cc | 0.282 lb/in³ |
