In this article, let Baowu take you to understand, will carbon steel materials rust?

First of all, carbon steel materials will rust. So why does carbon steel material rust?

Carbon steel is an iron-carbon alloy with a carbon content of 0.0218% - 2.11%. Because it is not pure steel and does not deliberately add alloying elements, it is easy to oxidize and rust. Moreover, the rusting of carbon steel materials is also closely related to the environment. If the storage environment is relatively dry, the degree of rusting will be relatively light. On the contrary, if the storage environment is relatively humid, the rusting will be more severe.

Carbon steel is also called carbon steel. Generally also contains a small amount of silicon, manganese, sulfur, phosphorus. Generally, the higher the carbon content in carbon steel, the greater the hardness and the higher the strength, but the lower the plasticity. Among them, manganese content is about 0.25%~0.80%, solid solution strengthening; FeO is removed to reduce the brittleness of steel; MnS is synthesized with vulcanization, which can reduce the harmful effect of sulfur. The silicon content is about 0.10%~0.40%, solid solution strengthening; in addition to the adverse effect of FeO on steel quality. Both sulfur and phosphorus are harmful to carbon steel. FeS and Fe form a low-melting eutectic, which causes the steel to become brittle and crack during hot working at 1000-1250 °C. Phosphorus increases the strength and hardness, but reduces the plasticity and toughness.

Carbon steel is further divided into low carbon steel, medium carbon steel and high carbon steel.

Mild steel, also known as mild steel, has a carbon content from 0.10% to 0.30%. Mild steel is easy to accept various processing such as forging, welding and cutting, and is often used in the manufacture of chains, rivets, bolts, shafts, etc. Low carbon steel is generally rolled into angle steel, channel steel, I-beam, steel pipe, steel strip, and steel plate, which are used to make various building components, containers, boxes, furnace bodies and agricultural machinery.

Medium carbon steel contains 0.25% - 0.6% carbon, and can also contain 0.70% - 1.20% manganese in addition to carbon. Its thermal processing and cutting performance are good, but its welding performance is poor. The strength and hardness are higher than those of low carbon steel, while the plasticity and toughness are lower than those of low carbon steel. Medium carbon steel is mainly used to manufacture high-strength moving parts, such as air compressors, pump pistons, steam turbine impellers, heavy machinery shafts, worms, etc., parts with wear-resistant surfaces, crankshafts, etc.

The carbon content of high carbon steel is 0.6% - 1.3%, often called tool steel, the carbon content is from more than 0.60% to 1.70%, and it can be hardened and tempered. Hammers, crowbars, etc. are made of steel with a carbon content of 0.75%; cutting tools such as drills, taps, reamers, etc. are made of steel with a carbon content of 0.90% to 1.00%. The higher the carbon content, the greater the hardness and strength, but the lower the plasticity.

The above is the reason why carbon steel rusts, as well as the classification and corresponding use of carbon steel. If you want to know more, please feel free to pay attention to Baowu.