When it comes to choosing the right material for your project, whether construction or aerospace, you’ll come across two options: carbon steel and mild steel. Mild steel is actually a type of carbon steel with a variation in its carbon content. Due to this difference, both have different properties and applications. If you want to know more about the difference in carbon steel vs mild steel, their price, and characteristics, keep reading!
What is Carbon Steel?
Carbon steel, as the name implies, has 0.05% to 2.1% carbon of the total weight. Here’s an overview of the different types of carbon steel, along with their carbon content:
- Ultra-Low Carbon Steels: Less than 0.015%
- Extra Low Carbon Steels: 0.015% and 0.05%
- Low Carbon Steels: Between 0.05% and 0.19%
- Medium Carbon Steels: Between 0.2% and 0.49%
- High Carbon Steels: Over 0.5%
Other elements, such as copper, silicon, and manganese, are also part of carbon steel. This material is known for its high strength, formability, and resistance to wear and tear. That’s why it’s quite popular and accounts for as much as 90% of steel manufactured overall. Here’s an overview of the traditional process of making carbon steel:
1. The production process starts with the extraction of raw materials, including iron and coal. Iron is taken from the Earth’s crust and is present in the form of hematite and magnetite, while coal is obtained from deep underground mines.
2. Next, iron ore is melted in a blast furnace with reduction agents such as coke. When iron melts, it reacts with itself, forming liquid pig iron with a high carbon content.
3. Since pig iron also contains impurities, it is further refined in a furnace, either in a basic oxygen furnace or an electric furnace. There’s a powerful blast of oxygen that quickly removes all impurities and excess carbon. Once the desired carbon content is achieved, alloying elements are added to give carbon steel unique properties.
4. Finally, they are poured into molds and cast into slabs!
What is Mild Steel?
It has a carbon content ranging from 0.05% and 0.25%. This low presence of carbon ensures that the steel remains easy to weld and formable while still offering enough strength for most applications.
If we examine the density of mild steel, it’s 7.85 g/cm³; hence, it’s lightweight compared to many other types of steel with high alloy contents. However, to harden it, you can heat treat mild steel using annealing or quenching.
Among the various carbon steel types, mild steel is quite common in the US, accounting for 85% of all steel products.
Carbon Steel vs Mild Steel: Key Differences
To understand the ins and outs of carbon steel vs mild steel, here’s an overview of the key differences:
Hardness and Strength
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Carbon Steel: Generally, carbon steel, such as high and medium carbon steel, has a high carbon content that leads to increased hardness and strength. This enables it to withstand heavy loads and absorb maximum energy without fracturing or deforming.
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Mild Steel: In carbon steel vs mild steel, the latter has low carbon content, which contributes to low hardness and strength. They are easier to bend, so you can use them in a variety of applications.
Machinability and Weldability
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Carbon Steel: When it comes to the machinability of steel, high-carbon steel versions aren’t up to the mark. They are harder to weld, requiring more power and generating more heat, which leads to tool wear.
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Mild Steel: On the other hand, mild steel has high machinability. It’s flexible, which paves the way for easy weldability and high machining speed. You also see less tool wear and lower power consumption, significantly reducing energy bills.
Wear Resistance
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Carbon Steel: If you opt for high carbon steel, it offers excellent wear and corrosion resistance. This makes it suitable for applications that demand high durability and are prone to moisture and rust.
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Mild Steel: In carbon steel vs mild steel, the latter has low wear resistance and is more susceptible to corrosion, especially in harsh environments.
Electrical and Thermal Conductivity
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Carbon Steel: Carbon steel, whether having a medium or high carbon content, is known for its low electrical and thermal conductivity. They have a more tightly crystalline structure, and carbon atoms oppose the movements of free electrons that are responsible for conducting heat and electricity.
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Mild Steel: Mild steel has a more open and distorted crystalline structure with very low carbon atoms. This allows for the easier and smoother movement of free electrons and protons, which enhances the overall thermal and electrical conductivity of the mild steel.
Applications Comparison
Now that you are aware of the key differences in carbon steel vs mild steel, let’s explore the various applications of both these steel types:
Carbon Steel
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Tools and Machinery: Carbon steel, particularly that with high carbon content, is used in making cutting tools that require high hardness, such as knives, knife drills, saw blades, and razors.
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Springs: Springs, including coil, leaf, and flat springs, are also made using high carbon steel and are part of various applications (automotive suspensions, mattresses, and furniture).
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High-Strength Wires: In terms of carbon steel versus mild steel, the former is more suitable for making springs, such as piano wire, hard-drawn steel wire, oil-tempered wire, and prestressed concrete (PC) wire.
Mild Carbon Steel
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Construction: Due to its bending ability, mild steel is used in many construction components, ranging from basic building frameworks to beams and columns.
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Decorative Elements: Mild steel can be finished with paints, galvanization, or powder coating. That’s why it’s used in many decorative elements such as ornamental gates, railings, facades, and panels.
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Automotive: Another application of mild steel is in the automotive industry, where it’s used for vehicles’ chassis, frames, and body panels.
Carbon Steel vs Mild Steel Price
The applications of both carbon steel and mild steel are diverse; however, the pricing and desired project decide which material you should opt for. Here’s an overview of carbon steel vs mild steel price for smooth decision-making:
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The prices of carbon steel vary greatly depending on the grade, form, and quality. However, most steel industry experts believe that hot rolled coil (HRC) prices will fluctuate between $600 and $800 per short ton this year.
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As far as mild steel is concerned, in carbon steel vs mild steel price, there’s no exact amount, and you can request a quote as per the desired application. It’s generally less expensive than traditional high-carbon steel since it’s easier to process.
Conclusion
In carbon steel vs mild steel, choosing the right one requires you to consider overall strength and fabrication needs. Wondering where you can get some top-notch steel for your projects? Look no further than Zhaojian! Contact us now. We have a wide range of high-quality steel products that are sure to make your projects stand out.
Quick Comparison Table: Carbon Steel vs Mild Steel
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Property
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Carbon Steel (Medium and High)
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Mild Carbon Steel
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Carbon Content
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0.05% to 2.1%
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0.05% to 0.25%
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Strength
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High hardness and strength, easily resisting heavy loads
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Low hardness and strength, bends easily
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Weldability
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Hard to machine and weld, requires more power, and generates immense heat
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Easy to machine, lowering energy consumption
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Wear Resistance
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Excellent wear resistance, easily withstands friction and impact
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Poor wear resistance, gets damaged, and wears out quickly under stress
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Magnetism
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Strongly magnetic
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Strongly magnetic
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Thermal and Electrical Conductivity
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Lower conductivity
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Higher conductivity
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Price
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More expensive
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Inexpensive
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Common Uses
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Tools, springs, cutting blades, and machine parts
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Construction, decorative elements, and household items
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