Carbon steel strength is influenced by carbon content and alloying elements. Inclusions can change its attributes. Heat treatment increases strength. Carbon steel with more carbon is stronger. Other metals can weaken or strengthen it. Hardening methods vary.
The strength of carbon steel is affected by many factors, some involving how the steel is alloyed and others involving what happens after the steel is created. One of the main factors influencing the strength of carbon steel is the amount of carbon added to the iron before the steel is made, since carbon is used to both create and harden the steel. While carbon steel typically doesn’t contain many other elements included in the steel alloy, these inclusions can change the strength, hardness, and other attributes of the steel. After steel has been alloyed, it can be subjected to heat, which can increase its strength.
Carbon steel is a type of steel that generally contains a low amount of carbon, but there are some grades that have more carbon than others. A big factor in determining the strength of carbon steel is the amount of carbon itself. This is needed to make the steel in the first place, and is heated together with the iron until the two melt and fuse into each other. Carbon is a hardener, so more carbon means stronger and harder steel. While tempering will be able to strengthen the steel more after it is made, carbon often determines the overall hardness of the steel.
Inclusions are rare in carbon steel, unlike other types of steel alloys, but even a small amount of other metals have the ability to change the strength of carbon steel. These metals are added when steel is alloyed; if not, the steel must be melted later for the introduction of these metals. Most metals, such as manganese, phosphorus and nickel, are added to carbon steel to increase its strength. Other metals, such as lead and copper, weaken steel but can help make it easier to work or weld, which can be beneficial.
Most steel is heat treated after being alloyed to increase the strength of the carbon steel, although steel is sometimes used as is. There are many different methods of hardening steel and each serves to increase different attributes. The steel commonly is placed in a furnace or similar area, where the steel is heated enough to turn it a blue color but not enough to melt it. After repeating this process several times, the strength of carbon steel tends to increase dramatically.
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