Steel Rate in Bangalore

1. Different types of steel you didn’t know about Steel, a man-made metal Steel is one of the most important metals for both humankind and the environment. The sustainability of steel, its properties, its applications and uses make it the most versatile man-made metal on earth. It can be recycled and reused countless times without any loss of its properties, and can be used in almost all kinds of construction. Not just its properties, but the dependency of the economy of many countries also makes it an important metal. Some of the countries that produce the metal in large quantities like India and China have their economies relying on the steel industry. India is the second- largest steel producer in the world, after China.

2. Since steel is a manmade metal, it is produced in different composition, grades, properties, and form. The production of steel has many different methods. In this interesting blog, we are going to focus on different types of steel based on different categories. Classification of steel: The most common types of steel generally known are: • Carbon steel • Alloy steel • Stainless steel • Tool steel This general classification is based on chemical composition. However, let’s dive deeper into the other classifications and their uses you didn’t know about: • Composition • Production method • Finishing method • Form • Microstructure • Treatment Composition: Steel is mainly composed of Iron and Carbon. The percentage of carbon and other alloys determines its grade and properties. Carbon steel is composed about 0.5% to 1% of carbon and a minute percentage of copper, manganese, silicon and other elements. The higher the carbon content, the stronger and harder the steel becomes. However, it becomes less weldable. Carbon steel: In carbon steels, there are three types - high carbon, medium carbon, and low carbon, based on the amount of carbon. Also referred to as steel grades, the percentage of carbon determines the grade of steel. • High carbon steel has a carbon content ranging from 0.30-1.70% by weight. It is used in high-strength wires, milling machines, edged tools, masonry nails, and chisels. They are very strong but have poor ductility. The wear resistance of high carbon steels is high, owing to its fine microstructure. • Medium carbon steel has a carbon content of 0.3-0.6%. It is used in making shafts, axles, gears, and forgings. It is also used in automotive parts. There is a balance of ductility and strength with good wear resistance in medium carbon steel. An increase in the amount of manganese gives it these properties.

3. Low carbon steel (mild steel) is used in steel frame buildings, cookware, pipelines, fencing, metal gates, etc. Its unique properties of equal strength and ductility are the reasons it is used almost everywhere. The carbon content is 0.3%, ensuring it’s neither too brittle nor too ductile. The cost is low and the metal is quite versatile. • Alloy steel: Alloying steel is a process of mixing the main metal with other components in varying proportions to alter its properties. Alloy steel contains copper, manganese, chromium, titanium, nickel, and aluminium. It is used in electric motors, power generators, parts of auto motors, transformers, and pipelines. Stainless steel: The most common type of steel that everybody is familiar with is the stainless steel. It contains about 10-20% of chromium, 8% nickel, and 0.8% carbon. The high percentage of chromium makes the metal extremely corrosion resistant. Hence, it is used in everyday household items and surgical equipment. Tool steels: Its composition of tungsten, molybdenum, and cobaltto increase the heat resistance and durability makes it ideal for use in drilling and cutting equipment. Production method: Blast furnace: The blast furnace uses iron ore, limestone, and coke to produce pig iron. Coke is made by first powdering the coal and heating it to 982°C for 18-24 hours in the oven. This removes the volatile elements such as oil, tar, and sulphur. The high energy value, heat and gases produced by the coke are required to melt the iron ore and sinter. Electric arc furnace: In this method of production, scrap steel and reduced iron is melted with electrical current to produce molten steel. Finishing method: Post the production process, the steel is rolled under heavy rollers. This finishing is carried out in 2 methods: Hot rolling: A huge piece of flat metal, usually rectangular, called a billet is heated beyond its recrystallization point which is 927°C. The heating beyond this point makes the metal easier to mould in desired shapes. It is then run under a series of rollers. Hot-rolled steel has a scaly and dull surface with blunt edges. The result is a coiled sheet of hot-rolled metal used to make TMT bars, structural steels like beams and pipes for constructions, railway tracks, doors, etc. Cold rolling: The hot-rolled steel is re-rolled at room temperature. It is coated with oil before running it under the rollers. Using oil in the process reduces the wear of the metal and gives it a shiny, oily look. The surface is smooth and the edges are sharp. Cold rolled steel is used in home appliances, roof & wall systems, water heaters, etc. Form:Steels are cut and shaped according to required uses post the production and finishing processes. The many forms and shapes of steel are:

4. Structural steels: These kinds of steels are hot rolled and used in the construction of buildings, dams, bridges, and other infrastructures. They come in I-beams, pipes, channels, angles and flat bars. They are available at the best steel rate in Bangalore supplied by Kaushalesh steels. • TMT bars: Thermo-Mechanically-Treated bars are reinforced bars with ribs widely used in construction. They are corrosion-resistant and weldable. They come in many grades like CRS grade TMT (Corrosion Resistant Steel). • Sheets: Steel sheets are used in automobile, aeroplane fuselages, roofing, etc. It can be easily weldable. They are available in both hot rolled and cold rolled. The type of sheet can also determine its uses like Galvanised Corrugated (GC) steel which is sturdy, light-weighted, easy to transport and corrosion-resistant. • Microstructure: A microstructure is the placement of molecules that takes place during the production of metal. Imagine a cube with molecules inside each corner and a molecule in the centre. The placement of the molecules and how tightly or densely they are packed determines its microstructure. Austenite: When iron-based alloys are heated between 815°- 982°C, the austenitic structure is formed. Its microstructure is a cube with molecules in each corner and a molecule in the centre of each face of the cube. So an austenitic structure is a face-centered cubic structure. Austenitic steel has about 2% of carbon and is a common structure of stainless steel. Ferrite: The molecular structure of pure iron at room temperature is ferritic. The form of this microstructure is body-centered cubic, meaning, the molecule is in the centre of the cube and one each corner, loosely packed. The amount of carbon is quite low in the ferritic structure.

5. Martensite: This microstructure is formed when steel is cooled rapidly which causes carbon atoms to be trapped inside the iron lattice (grill-like structure). Martensite has a heavy body- centered tetragonal structure (a crystal system having 3 axes at right angles, two of them equal). The composition of martensite steel is an alloy of low carbon and 12% chromium. Cementite: When the carbon steel with a carbon content more than 0.006% is heated, the extra carbon atoms merge with iron atoms to form a chemical compound iron carbide - Fe3C which is also known as cementite. Pearlite: This structure is formed when steel is cooled slowly where 2 molten materials crystallize. So perlite is a laminated structure of ferrite and cementite. The magnetic properties of steel depend on its microstructure. Austenitic steel is non- magnetic and is specifically made to be free of corrosion. Ferritic steel, due to the high composition of iron, makes it highly magnetic. Pearlite and martensitic steels are also magnetic. For a deeper understanding of microstructure, click on the link. Treatment: Heat treating: Steel is held in a gamma zone at 20-40°C for a short time after hot-rolling and cooled in still air. This process is called normalizing where the austenitic microstructure is achieved. When the metal is cooling, depending upon the carbon content, fine uniform grain is formed and it becomes either ferritic or pearlitic. The holding time, temperature and heating process depends on the chemical composition of the steel. Alloy steels are heated slower than carbon steels due to their high heat conductivity. The slow process reduces stress internally. Annealing: It is a kind of heat treatment carried out to increase the ductility of steel. The metal is heated above its recrystallization point and held for several hours at a suitable temperature and then cooled slowly in still air. This reduces the hardness of the steel. Cold- formed steel is usually annealed this way.

6. Quenching and tempering: Quenching is the process of cooling the metal rapidly in water, oil, or air to achieve a certain level of hardness. Tempering, on the other hand, is a heat treatment process where the metal is heated below the critical point and then cooled in still air to remove excess hardness. Usually performed after quenching, it is applied to ferrous alloys. A brief history of steel-making: The earliest known production of steel can be dated back to 1800 BC. Pieces of steel in ironware have been excavated from an archaeological site in Anatolia, Turkey. South Asia has a long history of steel making and exporting globally, dating back to the 6th century BC. There is evidence of steel making in Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. It has been mentioned in some literature in Tamil, Arabic and Latin that these regions exported the finest quality of steel to the Chinese, Romans, Arabs, etc. The metal was popularly called Seric Iron. In parts of Sri Lanka, steel was produced with a unique wind furnace where the monsoon winds powered the machines and generated high-carbon steel. It was known as wootz steel. Soil that contained iron was heated with firewood. The ancient Sinhalese produced a ton of steel for every 2 ton of soil. This technology was acquired from the Tamilians. Alexander the Great was rewarded 13 kgs of steel by Porus, the king whom he defeated. Steel was considered more precious than gold or silver and it was used in weapons. You may have heard about Damascus steel that was used during that time. Today, many types of steel are produced. There are many more ways but are too complicated to understand as a common man. To conclude, stainless steel isn’t the only type of steel that exists and learning about steel can be an interesting experience. It prompts you to think about its potential and ways it can improve the civilisation. The road to the future of sustainability and growth is paved in steel. It can solve many problems related to the environmental issues and depletion of natural resources. As an excellent source of a renewable resource, steel can be used in many ways and reused to build a better civilization with better economy. CONTACT US KSTEEL Website : https://www.ksteel.in Contact no. : +91 9845022217 Email : tmt@ksteel.in