Carbon steel is essentially iron with varying levels of carbon as the main alloying element. Carbon steel is one of the most widely used manufacturing materials due to its formability, weldability, strength, and ability to be heat treated to precisely modify its mechanical properties. Apart from carbon, an extra amount of manganese is also included in most alloys. Sulfur and phosphorus are also present however these are typically undesired and seen as impurities.
This article will describe what carbon steel is, the various types of carbon steel, and their advantages, disadvantages, and physical properties. The maximum operating and melting temperatures of carbon steel will also be reviewed. 1020 carbon steel rods are shown in Figure 1 below:
