FAQs
What are the different types of steel?
Steel is graded as a way of classification and is categorised into four groups. That being Carbon, Alloy, Stainless and Tool. Below is some background information to help you decide which type of steel would suit your needs.
We offer the four mentioned types of steel below.
Carbon Steel
Carbon Steel only contain trace amounts of elements besides carbon and iron. This group is the most common, accounting for 90% of steel production. Carbon Steel is divided into three subgroups depending on the amount of carbon in the metal – Low Carbon Steels/Mild Steels (up to 0.3% carbon), Medium Carbon Steels (0.3–0.6% carbon) and High Carbon Steels (more than 0.6% carbon).
Alloy Steel
Alloy Steel contain alloying elements like nickel, copper, chromium, and/or aluminum. These additional elements are used to influence the metal’s strength, ductility, corrosion resistance and machinability.
Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel contain 10–20% chromium as their alloying element and are valued for their high corrosion resistance. These steels are commonly used in medical equipment, piping, cutting tools and food processing equipment.
Tool Steel
Tool Steel make excellent cutting and drilling equipment as they contain tungsten, molybdenum, cobalt, and vanadium to increase heat resistance and durability.
What are the different grades of steel?
Steel grading systems provide a way to categorise steel based on all the different factors that can influence its properties and uses. They are widely used to ensure quality and consistency of materials. These standards provide a common language to communicate the properties of steel with great specificity, as well as guide product manufacturers toward proper processing and application procedures. We use two types of grading systems.
The ASTM Grading System assigns each metal a letter prefix based on its overall category (“A” is the designation for iron and steel materials), as well as a sequentially-assigned number that corresponds with that metal’s specific properties.
Why plastic Spacers?
Why use Galvanised Nuts & Bolts?
Hot Dip Galvanised (HDG) bolts have a tough and protective layer of zinc which protects the steel fastener from corrosion. The electrochemical properties of zinc cause it to continue protecting the steel from oxidisation even if the layer is damaged by chips and scratches.
Galvanised male threaded fasteners must only be used with galvanised female threaded fasteners, which are tapped oversize to accommodate the thickness of the zinc coating. Any other type of female fastener will be an overly tight fit. Likewise, any other male threaded fastener that is not galvanised will be an overly loose fit in a female threaded galvanised fastener. To accommodate the thickness of zinc when galvanising threaded components, extra clearance must be provided on the female threads. Galvanised fasteners most of the time have a bright light grey appearance. However, with certain grades of high yield and high tensile bolts, the coating may be matt grey because the higher silicon content of the steel makes them more reactive towards the molten zinc. When storing the galvanised bolts and nuts, it should be stored under dry, well-ventilated conditions to minimise the occurrence of wet storage stain.
