The Difference between Crude Steel, Fine Steel and Special Steel
Steel plays an important role in modern society, and the three common types of steel, crude steel, refined steel and special steel, play important roles in their respective fields.
Crude steel
Crude steel, that is, steel billet, is made from pig iron after being oxidized in a converter to remove carbon and other impurities, and then molten steel is obtained. After adding alloy and carbon to the molten steel, crude steel is obtained by casting. Refers to products made from pig iron directly through iron-making furnaces or other furnace smelting equipment. It usually has a higher carbon content, retains the slag and inclusions in the molten iron, and therefore has a looser texture. The production process of crude steel is relatively simple, the cost is low, and the manufacturing efficiency is high.
Characteristics and application areas of crude steel
Crude steel has high toughness and strength and is widely used in construction engineering, bridges, railways, automobile manufacturing and shipbuilding. The advantage is that the price is relatively low. For occasions where the structural strength is not high or large quantities are required, crude steel can meet the requirements. For example, the main components in many large steel structures and the rails of high-speed railways are made of crude steel.
Limitations of crude steel
However, the shortcomings of crude steel are also relatively obvious. Due to the presence of slag and inclusions, the surface quality of crude steel is low and prone to problems such as oxidation, corrosion and fatigue. For some fields that require higher surface requirements, crude steel is not the best choice.
Fine steel
Fine steel is an alloy material mixed with high-purity iron and carbon and other elements. It is not as strong as modern steel but is stronger than other irons. It is a steel product obtained by finishing and modifying crude steel through processes such as hot rolling, cold rolling or heat treatment. In the manufacturing process of fine steel, higher quality can be obtained by controlling the content of alloy elements and using advanced heat treatment processes.
Characteristics and application areas of fine steel
Fine steel has high strength, toughness and hardness, and has good surface quality. It is widely used in automobile manufacturing, aerospace, electronic equipment, tool manufacturing, daily necessities manufacturing and other fields. For example, refined steel in engine parts, body frames and drivetrains in the automotive industry provides better durability and safety.
The manufacturing process and challenges of fine steel
The manufacturing process of fine steel is relatively complex and requires strict process control such as out-of-furnace tempering and surface treatment. Since fine steel has high requirements on the content of alloy elements and stress distribution, the control and quality inspection during its manufacturing process are relatively difficult.
Special steel
Special steel refers to steel that uses special processes, specific chemical composition and organizational structure control to obtain special properties and application quality. Special steel can be obtained by processing crude steel or fine steel through special processes.
The production of special steel often requires strict material control and processing techniques to ensure that it meets design requirements and performance standards for specific uses. There are many types of special steel, common ones include: stainless steel, alloy steel, tool steel, wear-resistant steel, high-speed steel, spring steel, pipeline steel and special steel, etc.
Characteristics and application areas of special steel
Special steel has special mechanical, physical and chemical properties and is widely used in high-end fields such as automobile manufacturing, aerospace, electric power, petrochemicals and manufacturing. For example, some special alloy steels are able to maintain their performance in extreme environments and are used in engine parts and gas turbines in the aerospace field.
Manufacturing technology and processing difficulty of special steel
Special steel production technologies include electric arc furnace melting, converter steelmaking, vacuum melting, continuous casting, hot rolling, heat treatment, etc. Through these processes, the chemical composition and physical properties of steel can be precisely controlled to meet various specific industrial needs.
The manufacturing process of special steel is relatively complex, requiring precise blending of alloy elements and special heat treatment processes. Because special steel has high requirements in terms of mechanical properties, chemical composition, and organizational structure, its manufacturing and processing processes are challenging.
Crude steel, refined steel and special steel play an important role in different fields and applications, each with specific characteristics and advantages. Understanding the differences between these three types of steel and their application fields will help us better select and apply steel and promote the development and innovation of the steel industry.
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