Varioustypes of steel are used in construction and are not just limited to familiar materials, such as those for structural purposes. Being one of the most durable materials in the market, steel products can be infinitely repurposed and can last for as much as 50 years in construction and building projects.
Some of these products include flanges, angle bars, steel sheets, pipes, channels, corrugated roofing, sheet piles, and the like. However, there are also construction steel products that are designed to cut and shape different materials. An example would be tool steel which has higher tensile strength and hardiness compared to pipes. There are also other types such as rebars, alloy steel, stainless steel, and the like. Continue reading to learn more.
For this reason, steel rebars are used to reinforce concrete. Aside from building foundations, they may also be applied in columns, wall paneling, or concrete bridge decks. The steel rebars improve the flexibility of the concrete and also lessen the need for larger quantities of concrete.
As the name suggests, alloy steel is steel that has been metallurgically combined with other metals like manganese, nickel, molybdenum, chromium, or silicon. This is usually done in order to improve the properties of non-alloy steel by increasing hardiness, tensile strength, malleability, machinability, or corrosion-resistance.
Alloy steels are used for both functional and decorative purposes, alongside other steel materials. They are found in bridges, high-rise buildings, vehicle chassis, and even reinforcing materials for concrete.
Stainless steel can be classified as a subcategory of alloy steel, but with the distinct presence of chromium which is a metal that occurs naturally in the environment. The chromium content is what gives the steel its non-corrosive and non-oxidative properties which make it suitable for a wide range of uses.
Typically, the chromium content of stainless steel can lie anywhere from 10% to about 18%, although you can find more stainless steel products in the upper range. With this in mind, there are tons of reasons that make stainless steel the better alternative to materials like wood.
For example, stainless steel is applied in building cladding, railing, agricultural enclosures, roofing materials, trusses, and building framing. Unlike wood, it does not rot once exposed to humid environments. It also helps reduce the spread of fire better because of its non-combustibility and excellent fire-resistance rating. They also provide a low-cost option for different projects due to the low maintenance and repair requirements.
As mentioned before, tool steel refers to a type of steel product that is specifically used to fashion different metals and alloys into shape. Tool steel usually has a better strength rating compared to your average steel pipe, in order to make the tool better for any cutting, fabricating, bending, or machining purposes.
To give another example, tool steel can come in the form of a tooling die that contains a distinct cross-sectional shape. This is where heated alloys are extruded in order to produce building profiles, window frames, mullions, structural sections, and many more.
The carbon content in different mild steel products can be as high as 0.05% to 0.25%. Anything higher than this range, then the steel product can already be classified as cast iron. Unlike alloy steels, mild steel does not also contain many trace elements and metals for alloying. However, it is definitely more affordable compared to thicker-walled and stainless steel (which is considered to be the priciest out of all steel types.
Steel has become an integral part of construction because of its durability and high strength You most probably have heard that steel is the backbone of modern industry. Look around, and you will realize that most of the tools, machinery, and equipment that we use are made of steel.
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The types of steel used in construction often vary depending on the nature of the construction project. However, the main types include structural steel, rebar steel, alloy steel, carbon steel, light gauge steel, tool steel, and weathering steel.
Rebar is popularly used in construction to add positive properties to concrete. For instance, despite being strong in compression, concrete is usually weak in tension. Therefore, by carefully casting rebar into the concrete, the overall tensile strength increases, thus making it possible to carry heavy tensile loads.
Rebar steel is a crucial component in structures in need of great tensile strength. When concrete is poured without adequate support down the middle, it is highly likely to develop cracks due to enhanced stress. Placing rebar helps to absorb and distribute tension stress, thus reducing the chances of cracks or breaking.
Therefore, by placing rebar steel, the resulting concrete can withstand increased compression and tensile loads while still maintaining a thin profile. This also allows for increased savings since the total amount of concrete needed reduces significantly when using rebar.
Alloy steels are made when carbon steel is combined with one or more alloying elements like manganese, nickel, copper, titanium, aluminum, and chromium. The alloying elements are usually added to produce favorable properties that increase the construction value of carbon steel.
When producing alloy steel, the elements are usually added in varied combinations or proportions depending on the nature of construction. Some alloys help increase the hardness, corrosion resistance, overall strength, ductility, and weldability of steel.
For construction projects, alloy steels are mostly preferred for their increased corrosion resistance and hardenability. Also, alloy steels are perfectly capable of retaining their overall strength and hardness over time.
Stainless steel is a steel alloy with increased corrosion and weather resistance compared to alloy steel or carbon steel. Some of the common ingredients used in stainless steel include chromium, molybdenum, or nickel.
Structural steel is a type of steel produced with a particular shape or cross-section and specific chemical composition and strength values. In most industrialized countries, the composition, strength, size, and shapes of structural steel is usually controlled.
Structural steel can be easily transformed into different shapes, including L shape, I-Beam, T shape, and Z shape, among other shapes. High rise buildings rely heavily on structural steel, but it also makes a great option for light construction work.
Tool steel is another steel type used in construction. However, this type of steel is mostly used for tool manufacturing, which is still crucial in the construction business. Tool steel stands out due to its ability to retain shape at high temperatures, hardness, and abrasion resistance.
This unique type of steel contains small amounts of phosphorus, copper, nickel, silicon, and chromium. The use of the above materials allows the weathered steel to form a protective rust layer once exposed to weather, consequently eliminating the need for paint.
The rust that forms once the weathered steel is exposed to oxygen and moisture acts as a protective layer that prevents further corrosion. Therefore, the rust layer acts as a shield protecting the weathered steel from the elements that caused rust.
As the name suggests, this type of steel stands out due to its lightweight characteristics. Light gauge steel is produced when thin gauge materials are cold-formed into specific section profiles. The section sizes and profile shapes tend to vary but are usually strong enough to avoid local buckling and premature failure.
The best type of steel to use in construction depends on the nature of the project. This is because each steel type has its unique properties that either add value or compromise the structural integrity of a building.
Structural steel is a type of metal used for making construction materials. It is categorised into shapes, each with their own compositional properties which make them ideal for certain uses in construction. There are many structural steel shapes:
Universal Column -Universal beams are also widely used for structural purposes. They are similar to beams and are often called I-beams or H-beams, however, all three sections are equal in length. As their name suggests, they are mainly used for columns, and have fantastic load-bearing capabilities.
Rectangular Hollow Sections -Similar to circular hollow sections however they have rectangular cross sections. They are very popular in many mechanical and construction steel applications. Their flat surfaces make them prime for use in joining and metal fabrication.
Carbon steel is steel that contains between 0.12% and 2.0% carbon and is the main interstitial alloying constituent. Carbon is used in steel-making as a hardening agent whereby the greater the level of carbon, the harder and stronger the steel is through heat treating (however, the more carbon, the less ductile the steel will be). In carbon steels, the higher the carbon levels, the lower the melting point.
If you need quality steel that is fabricated to suit your unique needs, contact Steel Fabrication Services today. Our team of expert structural steel fabricators have the experience and knowledge to answer any of your questions and will ensure that you find the best solution to suit your needs. To contact us today, simply call, fax, email or drop by our Brookvale location.
Galvanizing, or galvanization, is amanufacturing process where a coating of zinc is applied to steel or iron tooffer protection and prevent rusting. There are several galvanizing processesavailable, but the most commonly offered and used method is called hot-dipgalvanizing.
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