The Four Categories of Steel

Posted on May 11, 2016 by admin

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There are several styles, grades, and sizes of steel to choose from. In fact, one of the most common questions among steel consumers involves the different types of steel. In order to know which steel best suits your metalwork project, you must first understand their differences. If you were to ask the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), they would tell you that steel can be categorized into four basic groups according to their individual chemical compositions.

These four groups include carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, and tool steel. All steel is composed of both iron and carbon, but vary in type depending on certain physical, chemical, and environmental properties; all of which are determined by the amount of carbon and any additional alloys. Below are the descriptions of the four categories of steel, and facts about each.

Carbon Steel

Carbon steel can be further categorized into three groups: 1) Low carbon, 2) Medium carbon, and 3) High carbon. Low carbon, also called mild steel, is one of the largest categories of carbon steel, and generally contains anywhere from 0.04% to 0.30% carbon content. Depending on its intended use, other additives and alloys can be added to create desired properties. Medium carbon generally contains anywhere from 0.31% to 0.60% carbon content, as well as, a range of 0.60% to 1.65% of manganese content. High carbon steel is informally known as “carbon tool steel” and contains 0.61% to 1.50% carbon content. It is difficult to manipulate, and becomes very brittle when heat-treated.

Alloy Steel

Alloy steel also contains carbon, since all steel contains both carbon and iron. But alloy steel also contains a marginal amount of additional elements, such as Nickle (Ni), Chromium (Cr), and Manganese (Mn). This type of steel is popular and commonly used due to their wide availability, economical costs, ease of processing, and quality mechanical properties. In comparison to carbon steel, alloy steel is more responsive to mechanical and heat treatments. Heated alloy steel comes in wither annealed or normalized.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel contains added alloys that make is extremely resistant to corrosion in comparison to carbon and alloy steel. This is why it is commonly used in the medical/surgical industries, appliance industry, hardware manufacturing industry, food processing/handling industry, architectural industry, and more. It contains both carbon and iron, as mentioned before, but stainless steel generally contains other alloys as well, such as Chromium (Cr), Molybdenum (Mo), or Nickel (Ni).

Tool Steel

Tool steel is a general term to describe a variety of steels that retain high-hardness and abrasion-resistance properties. Specific applications for tool steel include stamping, extrusion, dies, cutting, mold-making, or impact applications (i.e. hammers).

Recycle Steel in Indianapolis

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Call Zore’s Recycling at 317-244-0700 to recycle steel in Indianapolis, Indiana. We pay cash on the spot for all steel scrap metal, and honor the highest returns in town based on current market prices for metal. We accept sheet metal, scrap metal, cars, trucks, power tools, construction equipment, appliances, electrical wiring, and more. Call 317-244-0700 to recycle metal in Indianapolis, IN today.

Comparing Stainless Steel to Aluminum Metal

Posted on September 16, 2015 by admin

Since stainless steel and aluminum look so similar, many people believe they are the same type of metal. But this, of course, is not true. Although stainless steel and aluminum are used in similar industries, their qualities are different in many ways. Continue reading to learn some fun facts about both these metals, and the primary difference between them.

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Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is a steel alloy used for several reasons, and in several industries. It is highly resistant to corrosion, tarnishing, and rust. The most common uses for stainless steel include food handling and processing, surgical instruments, medical devices, air crafts, appliances, hardware, and more. The common alloying ingredient in stainless steel is chromium, but nickel, copper, manganese, iron and molybdenum are also used. Stainless steel usually contains anywhere from 15% to 30% alloy content.

Aluminum

Aluminum is a silvery-gray, light-weight, non-magnetic metal used in countless industries and for several purposes. The most well-known use for aluminum is food and soda cans. But aside from canned goods, aluminum is also widely used in the automaker and aerospace industry for its ductile, corrosion-resistant qualities and more.

Comparisons

As for strength and weight, steel is stronger and weighs more. Aluminum is only one-third the weight of stainless steel, but this is why it is top-choice for automotive and aerospace manufacturing.

Both metals are highly-resistant to corrosion, but since stainless steel is non-porous, it is more resistant than aluminum.

Both metals are also good thermal and electrical conductors, but aluminum retains higher thermal conductivity. This is why it is used to manufacture things like car radiators and air conditioner units.

In terms of malleability, aluminum takes the cake. It is much softer and easier to work with compared to stainless steel. On the other hand, stainless steel is much easier to weld than aluminum.

As for price, aluminum is much cheaper.

Remember to recycle your unwanted scrap aluminum and steel metal!

Zore’s Recycling

Indianapolis Metal Recycling 317-244-0700

Call Zore’s Recycling at 317-244-0700 to recycle aluminum in Indianapolis, as well as, all other metals you wish to discard. We accept all metals, including copper, steel, iron, precious metals, and more! Recycle old appliances, electronics, power tools, cars, water-crafts, and more for fast cash on the spot. We pay top-dollar for your scrap metal! Call 317-244-0700 to evaluate the worth of your scrap metal in Indianapolis, IN.

Common Uses for Ferrous Metals

Posted on April 28, 2015 by admin

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Remembering the difference between non-ferrous and ferrous metals is actually quite easy. You see, the term “ferrous” actually means “of or containing iron”, which means that any metal that contains relevant traces of iron is a ferrous metal. Non-ferrous means no iron content. There are various types of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and metal alloys.

Alloys are simply two or more kinds of metal combined to make a new metal. Brass is an example of a non-ferrous alloy. Ferrous metals include variations of steel and iron, and non-ferrous metals include aluminum, tin, copper, zinc, titanium, nickel, lead, and various alloys. Even precious and exotic metals are non-ferrous; like gold, platinum, silver, zirconium, mercury, cobalt, tungsten, selenium, beryllium, cadmium, and bismuth. Here is a list of ferrous metals and their primary applications or advantages among national and global industries:

Ferrous Metals and Alloys

Cast Iron – An alloy made from 2 to 6 percent carbon and 94 to 98 percent iron. It’s resistant to corrosion, malleable, strong, and retains a low melting point. It is primarily used to manufacture automotive parts like cylinder heads and engine blocks, as well as, machinery, pipes, construction, and other engineering purposes.

Wrought Iron – Almost entirely made of iron, it was used for its ductile and malleable qualities, but it is also resistant to corrosion and quite tough. It was mainly used in the past to make axes, chisels, warships, railways, nails, garden fences, cutlery, chains, rivets, couplings, ornamental ironwork, horseshoes, and more. These products and more are now made from mild steel because wrought iron is no longer manufactured on a commercial scale. You may hear wrought iron be referred to as mild steel, as it contains very little carbon.

Mild Steel – This metal contains very low traces of carbon, as little as 0.1 to 0.3 percent. Any ferrous metal that contains little to no carbon is basically a form of steel. It is used in the engineering industry and several metal commodities mentioned with wrought iron.

Stainless Steel – A very popular finish for appliances and home décor, stainless steel is an alloy made from nickel, chromium, and iron. It is stain and corrosion-resistant, making it a popular metal for surgical instruments, appliances, cutlery, and more.

Carbon Steel – This steel alloy contains anywhere from 0.5% to 3% carbon and is used to primarily manufacture cutting tools such as saws, rotaries, and drill bits.

Indianapolis Metal Recycling

Indianapolis Metal Recycling 317-244-0700

Call Zore’s Recycling at 317-244-0700 for information about Indianapolis metal recycling and more. We accept all types of metal in various forms, including cars, trucks, power tools, scrap metal, construction equipment, appliances, and more. We pay cash for scrap metal! Call 317-244-0700 to earn cash by recycling metal in Indianapolis, IN today.

Which Metals are Easiest to Recycle?

Posted on January 29, 2014 by admin

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Overall, metal in general is the easiest material to recycle. It contains various compounds and ions that allow it to melt, smelt, and be reused in a variety of industries. So which metals are the easiest to recycle? The answer isn’t so black and white; however, there are some metals that happen to be easier to recycle due to a number of variables. Continue reading to learn why come metals are easier to recycle than other, and where to go if you would like to recycle metal in your home town.

Metal Recycling

Scrap metal facilities and metal recycling centers are the most common places to recycle metal materials. These companies usually retain equipment and machinery that can melt down metallic materials without changing any of its original properties. Metal is an amazing commodity that we use on an everyday basis in almost every single industry all over the world. It has changed the way we build, heal, work, teach, transport, and more. The most commonly recycled metals are ferrous and nonferrous metals; some of which include precious metals like gold and beryllium. Ferrous metals contain iron; such as stainless steel, wrought iron, cast iron, carbon steel, and more. Non-ferrous metals are metals that do not contain traces of iron; such as aluminum, nickel, tin, and more. It is these metals that are the easiest to recycle because of their mass availability. Easy metals to recycle include:

• Iron
• Aluminum
• Tin
• Lead
• Silver
• Gold
• Copper
• Steel
• Brass
• Chromium
• Magnesium
• Titanium
• Zirconium
• Mercury
• Cobalt
• Zinc
• Beryllium
• Tungsten
• Bismuth
• Cerium
• And More

Scrap Metal Recycling Services in Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis Metal Recycling 317-244-0700

If you have some ferrous or nonferrous metals lying around the house or work shop, bring them into Zore’s Recycling in Indianapolis, Indiana. We pay cash for scrap metal recycling and accept all ferrous and nonferrous metals; including precious metals like gold, silver, or zirconium. We offer a wide range of Indianapolis metal recycling services, and can pick up large loads of metal for you. We recycle junk cars, appliances, jewelry, cell phones, tools, machinery, and more. Visit our website at https://www.zoresrecycling.com/metals-we-recycle-indianapolis.php for details about our services and company background. We offer free estimates, 24 hour services, and pay the highest dollar amounts for recycled metal. Call us at 317-244-0700 for more information about scrap metal recycling services in Indianapolis, IN.

Ferrous Metals and Non-Ferrous Metals

Posted on November 22, 2013 by admin

Many people are familiar with several types of metals, such as iron, aluminum, steel, copper, and more. These are popular and prevalent metals used in a wide variety of industries all over the world. What many people do not know is that all metals found on the planet are categorized as either “ferrous” or “nonferrous” metal. So what is the difference between the two categories? Continue reading and learn the meaning behind nonferrous and ferrous, and the metals that fall within each class.

Ferrous Metal

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Ferrous metals contain iron. Any metal that does not contain iron is classified as nonferrous. This is the simplest way to remember the difference between the two. Ferrous metals differ from nonferrous in several other ways as well. For example, ferrous metals are heavier, less malleable, and contain magnetic properties; whereas, nonferrous metals are lighter, more malleable, and have no magnetic capabilities. Also, ferrous metal is more vulnerable to rust. If you see rust, the metal is definitely ferrous. Below is a short list of ferrous metals:

• Carbon Steel
• Stainless Steel
• Cast Iron
• Wrought Iron
• Mild Steel

Nonferrous Metal

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Nonferrous metals, as mentioned before, do not contain iron or iron properties. They are much more malleable and lighter than ferrous metal; making them excellent materials in industries that have weight restrictions, but require strength, such as aviation or food canning. Non-ferrous metals also have a high resistance to rust and corrosion. As a result, nonferrous metal is widely used in the production of house gutters, road signs, roofs, piping, and more. Here is an example list of nonferrous metals:

• Copper
• Brass
• Silver
• Gold
• Aluminum
• Nickel
• Tin
• Lead
• Zinc
• And More

Recycle Metal in Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis Metal Recycling 317-244-0700

If you have scrap ferrous metal and nonferrous metal items that you wish to recycle in Indianapolis, Indiana, call Zore’s Recycling at 317-244-0700 today. We offer free estimates and information about scrap metal recycling for ferrous and non-ferrous metals. If you have junk cars, stereos, electronic equipment, power tools, and any other junk metal item or equipment; call us to recycle it for cash! Even if it’s broken, we still accept scrap ferrous and nonferrous metal. Visit our webpage at https://www.zoresrecycling.com/metal-recycling-indianapolis.php for details about our services and company background. We offer the best cash returns for ferrous and nonferrous scrap metal recycling in Indianapolis, IN and its surrounding regions.