- 2075 Asoj · 3 marks
Plain carbon steel versus alloy steel
Short answer
Plain carbon steel contains iron and carbon up to 1.5% with moderate strength and poor corrosion resistance. Alloy steel has added Cr, Ni, etc., providing higher strength, deeper hardenability, and good corrosion resistance, but higher cost.
Distinguish between plain carbon steel and alloy steel.
| Point | Plain carbon steel | Alloy steel |
|---|---|---|
| Composition | Iron + carbon (up to 1.5%), small Mn, Si | Iron + carbon + added Cr, Ni, Mo, V, Mn, etc. |
| Strength | Moderate | Higher |
| Hardness / hardenability | Lower, shallow | Higher, deeper |
| Corrosion resistance | Poor | Good (stainless steel) |
| Heat/wear resistance | Low | High |
| Cost | Cheap | Costly |
| Weldability | Good at low carbon | Needs care |
| Uses | Rebars, general structures | Tools, high-rise frames, stainless items, machines |
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
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