TYPES OF STEEL

Iron ore pellets for the production of steel

CARBON STEEL Steels containing 0.2% C to 1.5% C are known as carbon steel. They are of three types.

Low Carbon Steel: It contains 0.2% carbon.
Uses: Sheets, wires, pipes.

Mild Carbon Steel: It contains 0.3% to 0.7% carbon.
Uses: Rails, boilers, plates, axles, structures.

High Carbon Steel: It contains 0.7% to 1.5% carbon.
Uses: Surgical instruments, razor blades, cutlery, spring.


STAINLESS STEEL

It contains 14% to 18% chromium and 7% to 9% nickel.
Uses: Car accessories, watch case, utensils, cutlery, pipes.

Iron-carbon phase diagram, showing the conditions necessary to form different phases

ALLOY STEEL
There are three types of alloy steel.

Mn-Steel: It contains 10%-18% Mn.
Uses: Rail tracks, armor plate, safe.

Si-Steel: It contains 1% to 5% Si.
Uses: Permanent magnet.

Ni-Steel: It contains 2% to 4% Ni.
Uses: Gear, shaft, cable.

Adopted from http://www.citycollegiate.com/IX_steeltypes.htm
Read more about interesting steel from Wikipedia HERE