Steel

The steel industry is often considered to be an indicator of economic progress because of the critical role played by steel in infrastructural and overall economic development. The economic boom in China and India has caused a massive increase in the demand for steel in recent years. Between 2000 and 2005, world steel demand increased by 6%. Since 2000, several Chinese steel firms whom Raffles Gate has been working with for export has risen to prominence. The British Geological Survey reports that in 2005, China was the top producer of steel with about one-third world share followed by Japan, Russia, and the USA. 

Raffles Gate spans a worldwide network of distribution centres. Operating from more than 15 cities in 12 countries, Raffles Gate serves a wide segment of customers. and offers a full portfolio of hot and cold roll products, tubes and stainless steel, adding value through further processing and the provision of technical, engineering and consultancy support. Raffles Gate expertise lies in meeting the complex needs of local customers (agencies with multiple specialties) and major industrial accounts we support in their worldwide development.

Steel Metallurgy Overview

Alloy of iron and about 2% or less carbon.

Pure iron is soft, but carbon greatly hardens it. Heat treating, mechanical working at cold or hot temperatures, or addition of alloying elements may also give superior properties. The three major classes are carbon steels, low-alloy steels, and high-alloy steels. Low-alloy steels (with up to 8% alloying elements) are exceptionally strong and are used for machine parts, hand tools and in buildings and bridges. 

Carbon Steel

Steel is considered to be carbon steel when no minimum content is specified or required for chromium, cobalt, columbium [niobium], molybdenum, nickel, titanium, tungsten, vanadium or zirconium, or any other element to be added to obtain a desired alloying effect; when the specified minimum for copper does not exceed 0.40 per cent; or when the maximum content specified for any of the following elements does not exceed the percentages noted: manganese 1.65, silicon 0.60, copper 0.60.

Carbon steels are by far the most produced and used, accounting for about 90 percent of the world’s steel production. They are usually grouped into high-carbon steels, with carbon above 0.5 percent; medium-carbon steels, with 0.2 to 0.49 percent carbon; low-carbon steels, with 0.05 to 0.19 percent carbon; extra-low-carbon steels, with 0.015 to 0.05 percent carbon; and ultralow-carbon steels, with less than 0.015 percent carbon. Carbon steels are also defined as having less than 1.65 percent manganese, 0.6 percent silicon, and 0.6 percent copper, with the total of these other elements not exceeding 2 percent.

Non-Carbon Steel

High-alloy steels are considered as non-carbon steel, with more than 8% alloying elements (e.g., stainless steels) offer unusual properties. These steels have also iron greater strength, hardness, hot hardness, wear resistance, hardenability, or toughness compared to carbon steel. Common alloying elements are molybdenum, manganese, nickel, chromium, vanadium, silicon and boron.