- 2066 Shrawan (old course) · 4 marks
Short note: alloys of steel
Short answer
Alloy steels contain elements beyond carbon to improve properties: stainless (Cr-Ni) resists corrosion, manganese steel (12-14% Mn) is very tough for rail crossings, high-speed steel (W, Cr, V) keeps hardness at heat, and silicon steel gives magnetic cores.
Write a short note on alloys of steel.
Alloy steels are steels that contain one or more alloying elements other than carbon (such as Cr, Ni, Mn, Mo, V, W, Si) in amounts large enough to give special properties.
Common alloy steels
| Alloy steel | Main elements | Properties and uses |
|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel | Cr (11-18%), Ni | Corrosion resistant; kitchenware, cladding, railings |
| Nickel steel | Ni 2-5% | Strong and tough; bridges, gears |
| Chrome steel | Cr 0.5-2% | Hard, wear resistant; ball bearings, tools |
| Manganese steel | Mn 12-14% | Very tough, wear resistant; rail crossings, crushers |
| Tungsten / high speed steel | W, Cr, V | Retains hardness at high temperature; cutting tools |
| Silicon steel | Si 1-4% | Magnetic properties; transformer cores |
| Vanadium steel | V | Fatigue resistant, tough; springs, axles |
| High strength low alloy steel | Cu, Cr, Ni small | Weather-resistant (COR-TEN); bridges |
Alloying improves strength, hardness, toughness, corrosion and heat resistance, but increases cost.
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
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