What material is carbon steel rusty?

Carbon steel is an alloy of iron and carbon with a carbon content between 0.0218 and 2.11 percent. Since it is not pure steel, and no other alloying elements have been deliberately added, it is easy to oxidize and rust. According to the different use, carbon steel can be divided into three categories: carbon structural steel, carbon tool steel and free cutting structural steel. In carbon steel, the higher the carbon content, the greater the hardness and strength, but the lower the plasticity. Carbon steel is usually cheaper than stainless steel.

The main difference between carbon steel and stainless steel is their oxidation resistance, performance, appearance and price. First, they differ in their resistance to oxidation. Carbon steel is easy to rust, while stainless steel is not easy to rust, and has strong oxidation and corrosion resistance. This is mainly because the chromium content in the two steels is different. When chromium attaches to oxygen, it forms a layer of chromium oxide that protects the steel from degradation and corrosion. Stainless steel contains 11-12% chromium, while carbon steel contains the most carbon. The presence of chromium increases the corrosion resistance of stainless steel, making it more resistant to corrosion than carbon steel.

Second, they also differ in performance. Due to the high content of nickel in stainless steel, it is more malleable than carbon steel, but it is lower in strength and more brittle. In contrast, carbon steel has higher strength and increases hardness as the carbon content increases, but its plasticity is lower.

In addition, they are different in appearance. Although both can be polished and polished to achieve a bright, shiny appearance, carbon steel needs to be quickly coated with a clear coat or paint after polishing to prevent oxidation rust and maintain its shine. Stainless steel can maintain its brightness for a long time and will not rust under normal circumstances.

Finally, they differ in price. The price of stainless steel is much higher than carbon steel. This is mainly due to the addition of a variety of alloying elements in stainless steel, such as chromium, nickel, manganese, etc., the addition of these elements increases the production cost.