Description
Forged carbon steel is created through a steel forging process that maximizes the forged materials’ natural strength and machinability. It’s a steel that contains a high level of carbon as well as other alloys such as nickel, titanium, manganese, chromium, tungsten, and more. There are three main carbon steel grades that contain different levels of carbon:
- Low Carbon Steel, also known as mild carbon steel, contains 0.05% to 0.25% carbon. Due to its ductility, it can be easily stretched without becoming brittle which helps it withstand high pressure applications. In addition, alloys can be added to low carbon steel to enhance its properties without increasing its weight.
- Medium Carbon Steel contains 0.26% to 0.60% carbon. It offers greater strength and hardness compared to low carbon steel. Medium carbon steel is more ductile than high carbon steel which makes it the perfect balance between the two grades. In addition, medium carbon steel can be heat treated where greater toughness is required without compromising the metal’s machinability.
- High Carbon Steel contains 0.61% to 1.50% carbon. It offers the greatest strength and hardness compared to low and medium carbon steel. High carbon steel is also less ductile which makes it harder to form. Due to its high carbon composition, it can be heat treated to enhance its hardness for use in high stress and extreme applications without breaking.
