Stainless steel and carbon steel are extensively utilized for various industrial and domestic purposes. There are certain core differences between these two materials, and this article will provide an extensive comparison.
Image Credit: M.Khebra/Shutterstock.com En10210 Tube
Stainless steel is mainly made of iron and carbon. Stainless steel differs from general carbon steel due to the presence of Chromium. In addition to Chromium, Nickel may also be included.
Chromium is added to prevent corrosion. Anti-corrosion properties are a major factor that differentiates stainless steel from carbon steel. Iron, the essential component of any steel, is artificially processed to make steel. However, the artificial processed form of iron is unstable and reacts with moisture and oxygen to undergo corrosion.
To prevent this, chromium is added, and the product is called stainless steel. Chromium reacts with oxygen and moisture to develop a layer of chromium oxide over the steel surface, preventing rust from damaging it.
To classify any steel as “stainless steel” it must contain a minimum of 10.5% of chromium. There are different grades of stainless steel based on its composition, which are grouped into different types such as Austenitic, Ferritic, Martensitic, and Duplex stainless steel.
Carbon steel is undoubtedly among the most highly utilized steel variants being manufactured worldwide. The concentration of carbon in carbon steel ranges between 0.05 to 2.1%. American Steel Institute (ASI) states that carbon steel consists mainly of iron and carbon, with almost no additional alloying element required.
A comparison of stainless steel and carbon steel reveals that stainless steel must contain chromium. No such requirement is necessary for carbon steel. Carbon steel is categorized into low-carbon or mild steel, medium-carbon steel, and high-carbon steel.
The comparison of major properties of stainless steel vs. carbon steel reveals that stainless steel has a major edge being highly corrosion resistant. The protective layer formed on the surface of stainless steel protects it from corrosion and makes stainless steel a viable choice for applications where machinery parts are subjected to high moisture content.
The appearance of stainless steel is much glossier, giving off a smooth, bright silver look. Carbon steel, on the other hand, is much duller and mostly black, so stainless steel wins the battle versus carbon steel when it comes to aesthetic appearance.
The analysis of stainless steel vs carbon steel for robustness has revealed stainless steel to be more durable. Stainless steel is much more robust, but it has a lower resistance to wear and tear. However, in comparison to carbon steel, it is much less brittle.
The table below provides a brief overview of stainless steel vs carbon steel:
TABLE OF COMPARISON OF STAINLESS STEEL VS CARBON STEEL
STAINLESS STEEL VS CARBON STEEL
Stainless steel vs carbon steel has high corrosion and rust resistance
Stainless steel vs carbon steel can withstand high and low temperatures for extended amounts of time with high performance
Stainless steel vs carbon steel is much more complex; welding carbon steel is a simple task
Stainless steel vs. carbon steel rejects bacteria and other pathogens and is much easier to clean; Carbon steel is nontoxic but gets unclean easily
Stainless steel vs carbon steel is much more expensive to manufacture
A Comparison of Properties of Stainless steel vs carbon steel. Information Source: Mead Metals https://www.meadmetals.com/blog/stainless-steel-vs-carbon-steel
Wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) is an additive manufacturing technique efficient for the fabrication of different types of steel. Researchers have published a research article recently in the journal Materials, where they used gas metal arc welded (GMAW) based AM to fabricate mild carbon steel (G3Si1) and austenitic stainless steel (SS304). The properties of stainless steel vs carbon steel produced by additive manufacturing were compared.
The material property comparison of stainless steel vs carbon steel by the researchers revealed a higher value of strength in stainless steel in both the longitudinal and transverse directions in the range of 240-260 HV. The hardness value of stainless steel was higher than carbon steel by about 80 HV.
A comparison of residual stresses generated was also performed for stainless steel vs carbon steel. Longitudinal stresses in stainless steel were tensile with a value of 90MPa. For carbon steel, both the longitudinal and transverse residual stresses were compressive, ranging from 50 to 80 MPa.
Bolts are used to fasten two mechanical parts in complex machinery, and the failure of bolts leads to failure of the complete joint, which may cause severe damage. Therefore, the study of fracture characteristics of bolted connections is essential. Most bolts are made either of stainless steel or carbon steel.
In the latest article published in the Journal of Constructional Steel Research, researchers performed a detailed experimental study of fracture attributes of Grade A4–80 austenitic stainless steel bolts and carbon steel 8.8 bolts, along with developing comprehensive numerical modeling for predicting the failure.
Researchers performed 24 tensile tests. The numerical as well as experimental setup results confirmed that the A4-80 stainless steel bolts were more ductile than the 8.8 bolts. It was determined that the number of threads between the parts being fastened has a considerable influence on the bolts' reaction.
In short, the clear winner in stainless steel vs carbon steel depends on the application. For applications where corrosion resistance is a necessity, stainless steel must be preferred over carbon steel. However, where regular welding is required, such parts should be manufactured using carbon steel. Both types of steel have distinct advantages and shortcomings, which must be assessed beforehand for any particular project.
More from AZoM: Metal Recycling and the Circular Economy
Anderson, M., 2023. Stainless Steel Vs. Carbon Steel: What's The Difference?. [Online] Available at: https://www.meadmetals.com/blog/stainless-steel-vs-carbon-steel
Burnett, C., 2023. What Is Stainless Steel? Part I. [Online] Available at: https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/metals/what-is-stainless-steel-part-i/
John, 2023. Stainless Steel vs Carbon Steel. [Online] Available at: https://mellowpine.com/blog/stainless-steel-vs-carbon-steel/
Zhejiang Seamless Pipe CO., LTD, 2023. The Difference Between Stainless Steel And Carbon Steel. [Online] Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/difference-between-stainless-steel/
Rani, K. et. al. (2022). Wire Arc Additive Manufactured Mild Steel and Austenitic Stainless Steel Components: Microstructure, Mechanical Properties and Residual Stresses. Materials 15(20). 7094. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15207094
Yapici, O. et. al. (2023). Comparative study on fracture characteristics of carbon and stainless steel bolt material. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 210, 108102. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2023.10810
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the author expressed in their private capacity and do not necessarily represent the views of AZoM.com Limited T/A AZoNetwork the owner and operator of this website. This disclaimer forms part of the Terms and conditions of use of this website.
Ibtisam graduated from the Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering. During his academic career, he has worked on several research projects and has successfully managed several co-curricular events such as the International World Space Week and the International Conference on Aerospace Engineering. Having won an English prose competition during his undergraduate degree, Ibtisam has always been keenly interested in research, writing, and editing. Soon after his graduation, he joined AzoNetwork as a freelancer to sharpen his skills. Ibtisam loves to travel, especially visiting the countryside. He has always been a sports fan and loves to watch tennis, soccer, and cricket. Born in Pakistan, Ibtisam one day hopes to travel all over the world.
Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:
Abbasi, Ibtisam. (2023, November 07). How Does Stainless Steel Compare to Carbon Steel?. AZoM. Retrieved on January 29, 2024 from https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=23145.
Abbasi, Ibtisam. "How Does Stainless Steel Compare to Carbon Steel?". AZoM. 29 January 2024. <https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=23145>.
Abbasi, Ibtisam. "How Does Stainless Steel Compare to Carbon Steel?". AZoM. https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=23145. (accessed January 29, 2024).
Abbasi, Ibtisam. 2023. How Does Stainless Steel Compare to Carbon Steel?. AZoM, viewed 29 January 2024, https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=23145.
Do you have a review, update or anything you would like to add to this article?
In this interview, AZoMaterials speaks with Knauer about project management capabilities in OEM, customization abilities, as well as what makes Knauer OEM solutions unique.
Andrea Steck, Martius Cobo, Bruno Chencarek
In this interview, join Bruker as they describe how to improve battery production and performance, through the entire value chain, with the help of NMR.
In this interview, Sara Speak, the Industrial and Environmental Product Application Specialist at Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions, talks to AZoMaterials about the current challenges the food and beverage industry (F7b) faces in water management.
The Wafer XRD 300 is a integratable wafer Ooientation solution
This product profile describes the features and applications of the FOX 200 HT for measuring thermal conductivity.
This product profile describes the features and applications of the PlasmaPro ASP by Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology.
The global semiconductor market has entered an exciting period. Demand for chip technology is both driving the industry as well as hindering it, with current chip shortages predicted to last for some time. Current trends will likely shape the future of the industry, which is set to continue to show
The primary distinction between graphene-based batteries and solid-state batteries lies in the composition of either electrode. Although the cathode is commonly changed, carbon allotropes can also be employed in fabricating anodes.
In recent years, the IoT is rapidly being introduced into almost all sectors, but it has particular importance in the EV industry.
AZoM.com - An AZoNetwork Site
Astm A36 Steel Tube Owned and operated by AZoNetwork, © 2000-2024