Ferrous Materials

One of the greatest technical advancements during the early Greek period was the development and use of iron. The use of iron spurred many other important developments such as furnaces, mining, pumps and weaponry. The relatively low cost of making, forming and processing iron is just one of the many reasons why it is so highly sought after. The abundance of its two raw materials (iron ore and scrap) and its unparalleled range of mechanical properties also contribute to its desirability.

During the Industrial Revolution, it became clear that not only was iron used to make needed products, but even tools of iron were used to form other needed goods. Steel and iron were widely used to make machine tools and equipment which transformed the economy of both the city and farm. In regards to the city, steel is the most commonly used material for building all infrastructures and is used to make anything from safety pins to skyscrapers. The tools needed to build and manufacture such items and entities are also made of steel. Steel produced in the United States filters into five main domestic markets: the automotive industry, warehouses of steel service centers, construction, cans and other containers, and farm and electrical equipment manufacturers. It is evident that this metal is extremely important and ubiquitous steel is in our society and every day life.

Alloy development has grown significantly in the steel industry within the last thirty years or so. Many other steels such as high strength steel and low allow steel were also developed during this time and are significant because they meet major needs the industry has. They allow for weight reduction, higher performance, and lower costs. Alloys are also incredibly diverse which allows for designers to have a large pool to choose from. Next to alloy steels, carbon steels are the next most widely used type of steel. Other highly sought after steels are cold and hot finished steels, high sulfur steels, high strength, low alloy steels and stainless steels.

Stainless steels belong to an important class of engineering alloys. It is used in innumerable products and industries. Power generation, pulp and paper, chemical processing industries, and other everyday household and commercial products all utilize stainless steels. This family of alloys is iron based with an addition of chromium. When added to iron, chromium reduces atmospheric corrosion and forms an invisible and adherent rich oxide surface film, which gives it its stainless characteristics. It also forms and heals itself in the presence of oxygen.

Other notable physical properties about ferrous materials are the ability to be hardened or softened when added to another metal, modulus of elasticity, weldability with other metals, and ferromagnetism, the ability to be attracted to a magnet. Although there are more than hundreds of different types of alloys, they have been and are the most tested and well characterized materials ever. Ferrous materials are abundant and readily available for use and are known as the primary structural metal of choice.

An advantage that the steel industry offers to designers and users of steel is a high degree of standardization. The supplier of steel therefore is not as important so long as the proper alloy, product form and heat treatment is specified. This takes one more step out of the process and makes things easier for designers, contractors and other users of this material.