Steel is widely used to create tubing. Two common types are carbon and mild steel. Despite being suitable for similar purposes, crucial differences make each of them better for certain uses. We’re going to explore both steels in detail. This guide will offer you all the details you may need to make a decision on them. You’ll therefore be able to pick the right steel for your projects. Plus, you can rely on us for things like tube manipulation.

A detailed look at mild and carbon steel

Let’s begin by discussing the two materials. Firstly, we have mild steel. Its main characteristic is it comes with a low carbon content. Usually, the range is between 0.05% and 0.25%. This is a versatile, cost efficient material that’s regularly used in manufacturing and construction.

Mild steel’s low carbon content makes it more ductile. Moreover, it’s simpler to weld, form, and shape if you compare to other steels. The fantastic machinability is important too. You can easily cut, drill, and fabricate it. Even better, the steel comes with high tensile strength. This allows you to use it in high-stress applications like columns and beams.

Then there’s carbon steel. It gets its name because C is a major alloying element, with smaller quantities of other elements. High carbon steels contain over 0.6%, but some materials can go over 2%. People often use these materials due to the affordability and strength.

You can categorise carbon steel into separate grades depending on mechanical properties and carbon content. Each grade comes with its own applications and attributes, so you can decide what to use depending on the final item’s desired features. Medium to high carbon content (0.3%-0.6%) is useful for machinery components. Its hardness and high strength makes it work for all sorts of tooling. Talk to us if you need first rate tube manipulation services.

Comparisons

Understanding the distinctions between mild and carbon steel is vital. Each has its own benefits depending on the projects.

Mild steel works for low-stress uses because of the affordability and easy fabrication. It’s a practical choice for applications where strength isn’t at the forefront. As for carbon steel, it ranges from medium to ultra-high carbon content. It excels in high-stress projects due to its far higher strength. This can be up to 20% greater than mild steel. You can use it for anything needing more hardness and strength.

Something important to note though is that the higher carbon content in different types of steel leads to greater costs too. This may be a factor on budget-conscious efforts.

What’s more, welding carbon steel can prove to be more difficult than working with mild steel. So, it can be less appropriate for applications where welds will be a factor.

Which to choose?

Your choice between these two steels ultimately comes down to the particular demands of your projects. Just make sure you look at whether the steel is strong enough for your needs, will work for your welding requirements, and won’t cause budgetary problems.

With pricing, carbon steel costs more than its mild counterpart. However, people are often willing to pay more since the steels are very strong without losing their flexibility. This is why they work for projects like building bridges and skyscrapers. Here, you need materials that put up with a lot of weight.

Come to us for quality tube manipulation services

At Multiform Tubes Engineering Ltd we always work hard to provide clients with the highest quality services. A crucial thing here is we have knowledgeable technicians. They can provide advice about working with different materials, including crucial things like springback.

So, if you need tube manipulation, we’d be happy to give you what you need. Get in touch to start discussing your project and the ideal type of tubing.