What is the difference between plain steel and carbon steel?

Mild Steel vs Carbon Steel: What is the Difference?

steel and carbon steel.

While both are used for similar purposes, there are several key differences between the two that make them better suited for different applications.

What is carbon steel?
Carbon steel is a type of steel that contains carbon as the main alloying element, with other elements present in smaller amounts. This metal is commonly used in the manufacturing of many products and structures due to its high strength and low cost.

Carbon steel can be further classified into various grades based on its chemical composition and mechanical properties, such as low carbon steel (mild steel), medium carbon steel, high carbon steel and ultra high carbon steel. Each grade has its own specific uses and applications, depending on the desired properties of the final product.

Carbon steel types
There are several types of carbon steel, each with unique properties and applications. These types include:

Low carbon steel
Also known as “mild steel,” this type of steel is more ductile and easier to shape, form and weld compared to other carbon steel types. This makes mild steel a popular choice over higher-carbon steels when it comes to construction and manufacturing applications.

Medium carbon steel
Contains 0.3% to 0.6% carbon content, making it stronger and harder than low-carbon steel but also more brittle. It is often used in applications that require both strength and ductility, such as machinery components, automotive parts and building frames.

High carbon steel

High carbon steel contains 0.6% to 1.5% carbon content and is known for its high strength and hardness, but high carbon steel is even more brittle than medium-carbon steel. High carbon steel is used in applications that require high strength such as knife blades, hand tools and springs.

Mild Steel vs Carbon Steel: What Is the Difference?