The difference between carbon steel and stainless steel

Carbon steel and stainless steel are two different metal materials, their differences are mainly as follows:

Ingredients. Carbon steel is mainly composed of iron and carbon, with a carbon content usually between 0.04% and 2.5%. Carbon steel may also contain small amounts of elements such as silicon, manganese, sulfur, and phosphorus. Stainless steel is an alloy steel composed primarily of iron, carbon and at least 10.5% chromium, stainless steel may contain other elements such as nickel, molybdenum to enhance its structure and properties.

Corrosion resistance. Carbon steel is prone to rust and corrosion and needs to be used under protection and maintenance. Stainless steel, because it contains chromium, has strong corrosion resistance and can be used in wet or corrosive environments.

Strength and hardness. The hardness, tensile strength and impact toughness of carbon steel are high, especially high carbon steel, which is suitable for manufacturing tools, auto parts and so on. Stainless steel is also higher in strength, but usually costs more than carbon steel because of its alloy composition.

Processability. Carbon steel is easier to process, while stainless steel is slightly more difficult to process due to its hardness and corrosion resistance.

Use. Carbon steel is widely used in construction, automobile manufacturing, tool manufacturing and other fields. Because of its corrosion resistance, stainless steel is mainly used in medical equipment, containers, cookware and so on.

The price. The cost of stainless steel is usually higher than that of carbon steel because of the addition of a variety of alloying elements.

Appearance. Carbon steel mainly shows the color of iron, while stainless steel contains more chromium and nickel, and the appearance of the color is more silver and bright.

The choice of carbon steel or stainless steel depends on the specific application needs, including factors such as cost, strength, corrosion resistance and processability.