Carbon Steel: Properties, Production, Examples and Applications

Carbon steel is an iron-carbon alloy, which contains up to 2.1 wt.% carbon. For carbon steels, there is no minimum specified content of other alloying elements, however, they often 

contain manganese. The maximum manganese, silicon and copper content should be less than 1.65 wt.%, 0.6 wt.% and 0.6 wt.%, respectively.

Types of carbon steel and their properties

Carbon steel can be classified into three categories according to its carbon content: low-carbon steel (or mild-carbon steel), medium-carbon steel and high-carbon steel [1]. 

Their carbon content, microstructure and properties compare as follows:

Carbon Steel Description

Grade:

1)GB: Q195, Q215, Q235A, Q235B, Q235C, Q235D, Q255A, 255B, Q275, Q295A, Q295B, Q345B, Q345C, Q345D, Q345E, Q390A, Q390B, Q390C,Q390D, Q390E, Q420, Q420B, Q420C,

Q420D, Q420E, Q460D, Q460E, Q500D, Q500E, Q550D, Q550E, Q620D, Q620E, Q690D, Q690E

2)EN: S185,S235JR, S275JR, S355JR, S420NL, S460NL S500Q, S550Q, S620Q, S690Q

3)ASTM: Grade B, Grade C, Grade D, A36, Grade 36, Grade 40, Grade42, Grade 50, Grade 55, Grade 60, Grade 65, Grade 80

4)JIS: SS330, SPHC, SS400, SPFC, SPHD, SPHE