Carbon steel contains more carbon than traditional steel alloys. That percentage gives carbon steel a lower melting point and makes it highly workable. Consumers in various industries choose carbon steel for metal fabrication for this reason. Carbon steel is also malleable, durable and has excellent heat distribution qualities. Based on its composition and production technique, carbon steel falls into the following categories.
- Hot-rolled steel: Steel rolled above its recrystallization temperature is more malleable. The surface typically has scale on its exterior, and it shrinks as it cools. Those qualities make hot-rolled steel best suited for production runs that don’t require adherence to tight tolerances. There are various techniques to remove the scale and clean the surface.
- Cold-rolled steel: Steel rolled at room temperature is stronger because it experiences strain hardening. Cold-rolled steel is one of the best materials used in metal fabrication when an application requires precise shapes.
- Hot-rolled, pickled and oiled (HRPO) steel: Unlike other hot-rolled steel, HRPO does not have the same rough scale, as we remove the scale with an acid bath that pickles the metal. HRPO steel is excellent for applications in automotive, tubing and construction industries.
- High-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel: HSLA steel has high corrosion resistance. Rather than focusing on its chemical composition, consumers choose HSLA for its mechanical properties. HSLA strength is perfect for applications that involve immense tension. Companies that deal with bridges, cranes and roller coasters often choose HSLA steel.
Stainless Steel
Both carbon and stainless steel are iron alloys. Iron oxidizes, which causes corrosion. However, stainless steel contains chromium, making it more resistant to corrosion than carbon steels. Stainless steel has countless applications in any industry. It is the most popular choice of materials used in metal fabrication for home appliances and other objects that must stay clean.
Aluminum
Many consumers choose aluminum for products that require lightweight metal fabrication materials. It has a low melting point and high thermal conductivity. Despite some of its weaker mechanical properties, aluminum has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than many other metals. It is common in metal fabrication for architecture, solar equipment and cars.
Are you interested in other metal materials used in fabrication? We can also work with titanium, brass and copper, to name a few, so please contact us to discuss the products you would like to manufacture and potential material options.
