Properties of Steel

Steel is a general term for iron containing small amounts of carbon, manganese and other elements.

Lustre It is a shiny metal with a very attractive finish (architecture, cutlery, appliances).		Conductivity It transfers heat and electricity (saucepans).

Malleability It can be rolled into thin sheets, rod, bar or beams (roofing, structural) or forged into different shapes (gears, tools).		Ductility It can be stretched and drawn out into thin wires (wire fences) or pressed into different shapes (auto body panels).

Strength It is very strong and resistant to fracture (building frames, security doors, trains, ships).		Durability It is a long lasting material (buildings, rail lines, bridges) and resistant to wear (machines and equipment).

Alloying Adding other chemicals can change steel's properties. Stainless steel contains the elements chromium, nickel and molybdenum to make it rust resistant for use in kitchens. Manganese is added to increase toughness, while steel for rods has tungsten and cobalt to keep it hard, even when it gets hot.		Coating As well as having various recipes, steel can also be coated with different substances, such as other metals like tin, or plastics or paint. ZINCALUME® steel has a protective coating of a zinc-aluminium alloy to protect it from the weather.

Lustre