What are the uses of mild steel?
- Construction
- Machine and automotive components
- Pipes and tubes
- Cookware
- Gates and fencing
Billions of tons of steel are used every year to make all kinds of products. From making household items to structural beams, there are countless applications for steel. And of all the types of steel available, one of the most used ones is mild steel.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that you probably see something made of mild steel every day. But, what are the uses of mild steel, and how is it used in virtually nearly every industry? Read on to find out!
What is Mild Steel?
Mild steel, also known as low carbon steel, is a subtype of carbon steel. As a type of carbon steel, mild steels contain a mix of carbon and iron.
Of all the carbon steel types, it has the lowest carbon content — hence, its name. Any piece of mild steel sheet or plate typically contains around 0.05% to 0.25% carbon by weight.
As a result of its composition, mild steel has several beneficial characteristics that you can’t find in most other types of metal. First, due to its carbon content, it’s one of the stronger steels on the market.
Second, it’s a ductile and malleable metal, despite its high strength. This is because it has a lower carbon content than other carbon steels. So, it’s much easier to bend, cut, machine, and otherwise form. This means it’s an easy material to work with and can be fabricated relatively quickly.
It is also much cheaper than most other types of steel. This, paired with its malleability, makes it a very affordable option for most projects.
With so many desirable properties, mild steel is the preferred material for many applications, such as:
Construction
In construction, there is a need for materials that can be fabricated and welded easily. These materials also need to reliably carry heavy loads, and withstand harsh weather conditions.
For this reason, mild steels are the perfect material for construction projects. Specifically, they’re used to create steel frames and structural steel pieces. They are strong enough to meet strict seismic and wind requirements, which is one of the biggest hurdles in construction. Mild steels also offer great resistance to fire, weather, pests, and impact. They are also relatively cheaper compared to most construction materials, making them easy to fit into your budget. They can also be cut, welded, and formed even on-site with ease. Thus, they can be used in structures big or small, from bridges to buildings.
Due to these qualities, mild steel is one of the best options to use in many construction and structural applications.
Machine and automotive components
The metal used for machine and automotive components need to meet certain requirements. They should have the desired ratio of strength, ductility, and durability. This ratio makes sure that not only do these parts fulfill their purpose well, but production is efficient and quick enough to be cost-efficient. So it’s easy to see why mild steels are so widely used for this application. They perfectly meet these requirements.
One of the most desirable traits of this kind of steel is its ductility. This makes it suited for mass production of machine components, car body kits, screws, brackets, steel frames, and other mechanical elements.
Pipes and tubes
Mild steel is a common material for various pipe and tube products. This is because they have excellent ductility. This is important in making pipes and tubes that are easily welded and bent into the desired shape.
Another reason that mild steel is often used in this application is that it offers more strength and durability than many other ductile metals on the market. This ensures that, despite its easy formability, it is strong enough to not break or crack under pressure. This is especially important when the pipes and tubing are used to transport materials like water, chemicals, and gasses.
Plus, its ductility makes mild steel highly adaptable to any changes in the environment. When it’s warm, the metal easily expands. Likewise, it easily adapts to low temperatures. This ensures that, even when exposed to cycling temperatures, the metal flexes and braces itself as needed. Thus, these pipes and tubes typically last longer, even in weather extreme environments.
Cookware
When you think of cookware, the metal that comes to mind may be stainless steel or even cast iron. And, while it’s true that these two metals are widely used for this application, there is one other metal that you can often find in the kitchen — mild steel. It’s a widely used material and an effective solution for the food and beverage industry.
In particular, an increasing number of cookware manufacturers are turning to mild steel for their products. Not only can this steel withstand higher temperatures, but it is also less susceptible to impact. This means that mild steel cookware is less likely to dent or become deformed in the hustle and bustle of the kitchen. And, it means any tool made with mild steel remains sharper for longer, making it ideal for things like cutting knives.
Gates and fencing
Mild steel can easily be fabricated into different lengths, sizes, and shapes, which makes it perfect for products like gates and fences. Plus, this steel takes to protective coatings like galvanization and paints extremely well. Thus, they can easily be enhanced to improve their visual appeal, while also becoming more rust-resistant.
And, mild steels are a durable material — being highly resistant to force and impact. So they’re quite hard for someone to damage or break into. This is important for gates and fences, as they need to provide security for a property.
Key Takeaway
The many uses of mild steel show exactly why they are so widespread in every industry. They have their place in a variety of construction, commercial, and industrial projects.
If you’re looking for mild steel to use for your project, contact Regan Industrial Sales, Inc. We’d be happy to help you find the right product for your application and other services that we can provide!
