How Steel Chemistry Affects Steel Properties

How Steel Chemistry Affects Steel PropertiesSteel chemistry is the science of creating iron from other compounds, whether it's iron ore to steel, or coal. The chemistry of steel is quite complex and while it's a known fact that iron and steel are the most common elements in the earths crust, the science behind how they form is less well known.Steel begins its existence as either ferric oxide (FeO) or manganese dioxide (MnO2). These compounds are referred to as ferric or manganese and oxide respectively. But the amount of these two minerals determines what metals will form in the first place.For example, if the amount of manganese is too high, then it's going to result in iron and is going to be a very weak alloy. Conversely, if the amount of manganese is too low, then the alloy will result in a poor quality iron. This is why manganese plays such an important role in creating steel. It makes the alloy stronger and prevents the iron from turning to iron oxide.If the manganese oxide is a lot greater than the amount of ferric oxide, then the alloy will result in a very low grade iron. While this may not sound like a lot of change, it will make a huge difference in the strength of the metal that will result from the alloy.So, this is a good thing, but how does the composition of the steel affect its strength? Well, there are several ways that the composition of the metal affects the strength of the steel.First, the composition of the steel structure will determine its durability. Good grades of steel are more resistant to cracking and fatigue damage, which is why a piece of metal called AISI or Aramid is used to make precision equipment. These grades are also better at resisting and stopping penetration, the most common cause of fatigue and premature failure.The second way that the composition of the steel affects the strength of the steel is by acting as a dampener on the expansion and contraction of the metal. A proper amount of moisture has been shown to help kee p the material under tension and keep it from tearing when under pressure. This helps keep the metal stiff and increase the wear and tear of the material over time.And finally, the ability of the steel material to conduct heat is also directly related to its strength. Heat increases the rate of chemical change, which increases the rate of crystallization, and thus causes an increase in the rate of weight change. This again is why manganese is used in order to enhance the strength of the steel by increasing the metal's ability to resist heat.