An alloy consisting primarily of iron with a small, controlled percentage of carbon, usually between 0.02 and 2.1 percent by weight. The carbon acts as a hardening agent, preventing dislocations in the iron crystal lattice from sliding past one another. Additional alloying elements like manganese, chromium, nickel, and molybdenum are added to impart specific properties such as hardenability, corrosion resistance, and tensile strength.
Heard on the job
We need to spec a low-carbon steel for this bracket so it forms without cracking.
Insider tip
The difference between mild steel and cast iron is just the carbon content, with steel sitting in the sweet spot that allows it to be both hard and ductile.
Do not mix it up with
- Iron: Iron is the base element, while steel is an alloy of iron and carbon designed for structural strength.