Properties of 1010 Steel
Steel is made by mixing a percentage weight of carbon with molten iron. The carbon removes some of the negative properties of the iron, such as brittleness. The amount of carbon added changes the properties of the steel. To manufacture 1010 steel, 0.10 percent carbon is mixed with iron, along with 0.3 to 0.6 percent manganese and trace amounts of sulphur and phosphorus.
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Density
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The majority of steels have a density of around 0.284 pounds per cubic inch, and the same is true of 1010 steel. This density is why steel is used so commonly in the construction industry, as its weight-to-volume measurement means it will remain strong and stable during building.
Heat Treatment
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Most steels have an amount of manganese in the mixture as well. Although this adds several properties, the main advantage is the ability to hot-roll the metal without it splitting. Because 1010 steel has such a low manganese content, it has to be cold-rolled. The low manganese content is why 1010 steel is used for car body parts, rather than the larger car body panels.
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Malleability and Ductility
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Malleability refers to how easy it is to turn the metal into sheets, while ductility refers to the ease of turning it into wires. Cold-drawn 1010 steel elongates by 20 percent with a Poisson's ratio of 0.27 to 0.3. This means that this type of steel stretches rather than flattens, so it has better ductility than malleability, making it an ideal material for manufacturing bolts and metal fasteners.
Machinability
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Machinability refers to how easy the material is to work with in terms of cutting and welding. The low carbon content means 1010 steel has a lower melting point than other steels, making it very easy to weld. It has a machinability rating of 55 percent, which is above average.
Strength
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The lower the carbon content, the lower the strength of the steel. As 1010 steel has the lowest carbon content, it is the weakest in terms of tensile and yield strength, which is why it is not used in any load-bearing applications. Its tensile strength is around 365 megapascals, and it has a yield strength of 305 megapascals.
Hardness
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In metals, hardness refers to to how easily a material can be dented under force. The hardness of 1010 steel is 105 HB, according to the Brinell hardness scale. This is lower than other types of steel that have a higher carbon content, which is why 1010 steel is used for specific parts rather than structural components.
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References
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