Steel is an alloy of Iron and carbon which has improved strength and durability as compared to other versions or forms of steel. It is one of the most commonly manufactured materials in the world. Steel can be said to be a pillar of urbanization it is used in making buildings, as concrete reinforcing rods, in bridges, infrastructure, tools, ships, trains, cars, bicycles, machines, electrical appliances, furniture, and weapons. One of the major sections of human life depends on steel.
According to the required engineering or work, many different types of steel can be used for various applications. Two of the most commonly used are alloy steel and mild steel. While these two types of steel may look similar on the surface, there are some differences between them.
Alloy steel is a type of steel alloyed with several elements like manganese, nickel, chromium, silicon, boron, etc. All these alloys are added to increase the strength, hardness, and durability. The amount of the alloying element may vary between 1 and 50%. Alloy steel is more resistant to corrosion and can be used in high-temperature areas without any fear of damage.
Mild steel is a type of carbon steel that has a low amount of carbon it is also known as “low carbon steel”. Mild steel is a ferrous metal made of iron and carbon. It is a low-priced material with properties that are suitable for most general engineering applications. Low-carbon mild steel has good magnetic properties because of its high iron content, so they are also defined as being ‘ferromagnetic’.
Difference Between Alloy Steel and Mild Steel
Let’s discuss the difference between alloy steel and mild steel. They look the same from the surface but are very different in various aspects like characteristics and properties. Some of the major factors are:-
Composition :
One of the main differences between alloy steel and mild steel is their composition. Alloy steel contains carbon and some other additional elements such as manganese, chromium, nickel, etc. to increase its strength and durability whereas mild steel composition only contains iron and carbon as its main elements and some amount of sulfur and phosphorous. It only contains 0.05% to 0.25% carbon and they don’t have other elements like nickel, chromium, etc.
Strength :
Alloy steel is generally stronger than mild steel because it contains alloying elements like chromium and nickel which improves the strength and hardness of the alloy steel. Alloy steel has a higher tensile strength as compared to mild steel. Alloy steel can also be heat-treated to increase its strength and durability. So on the basis of strength alloy steel is prioritized in the places where strong steel is required.
Cost :
carbon steel is cheaper than alloy steel as they do not contain any additional elements other than iron and carbon. This makes them a great choice for applications where cost is a major factor, such as construction projects or manufacturing processes that require large quantities of material at relatively low costs. But, if you need extra strength, you have to pay some more money to buy alloy steel because of its increased cost per unit weight as compared to carbon steel.
Corrosion Resistance :
Both alloy steel and mild steel are exposed to corrosion in some conditions. But alloy steels are more resistant because of their additional elements like chromium, nickel, etc which protect them from rusting and oxidation over time. This makes them a great choice for outdoor applications where we can’t avoid exposure to the elements or when we want long-term performance without replacing parts again and again due to corrosion damage.
Hardness :
Another difference between alloy steel and mild steel is their hardness level. Alloy steels are harder than mild steels because of their higher carbon content which increases their hardness rating on the Rockwell scale (a measure of hardness). This makes them better suited for applications that require a high level of strength and durability, such as tools axes, hammers, and many more. Alloy steel is used to create machine parts that undergo heavy use over long periods. It resists wear and damage from abrasion and impact forces.
Where are these types of steel used?
The types of steel used most commonly are alloy steel and mild steel. Let’s discuss how and where are these steel used :
Alloy Steels :
Alloy steel is a versatile material that is widely used in construction due to its ability to meet various requirements. It is lightweight has high strength, good load-bearing capacity. Alloy steel plays an important part in the infrastructure. They are often used in areas where high durability and strength are required.
Alloy steels are also used in producing long products used in the construction industry such as girders, structural sections, bars, rails, rods, and wires. Another important product made of alloy steel is flanges. These are used in stainless steel pipelines. These flanges can be made to suit various applications.
Mild Steels :
Mild steels are used to create products that are used in many industries and markets. Mild steel is one of the most popularly used types of steel in the market. It is often used in cutlery, building construction, pipeline construction, automobiles, machinery, fencing, and cookware. Mild steel has a very high melting point of 1450°C to 1520°C.
Mild steel is also used for signs and furniture. It is cheaper than alloy steel and also has good weldability. It is also suitable for different types of cutting and coating methods. Mild steel is primarily known for having low carbon content which is less than 0.2% by weight.
Mild steel is easier to work with as compared to alloy steel because it can be molded easily to convert it into the desired shape and size.
Conclusion
Ultimately, when it comes down to choosing between alloy steel and mild steel, it totally depends on your specific application requirements and your budget. But understanding the differences between them can help you a lot in making a good decision while buying which type of steel is a better option according to your requirements whether you opted for an alloy steel or a mild one. But remember the fact that both types of steel have their unique properties that make them suitable for different types of tasks, so it’s important to choose carefully between them. The most important outcome of alloy steel vs carbon steel is mentioned below.
- Alloy steel is stronger and more durable than mild steel.
- Alloy steel is more expensive than mild steel.
- Alloy steel is more difficult to weld than mild steel.
- Alloy steel is more resistant to corrosion and rust than mild steel.
- Mild steel is easier to work with than alloy steel.
- Mild steel is more common than alloy steel.