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The Difference Between Iron And Steel

Iron and steel are important materials in metallurgy. The two materials are related, but there are significant differences in their structural and chemical properties. Iron is an element found in nature and is typically found in ores in the form of oxides. Steel is an alloy consisting of iron as the main component, along with carbon and sometimes other elements. This combination makes steel stronger and harder than iron. There are also distinct differences between the two materials in factors such as melting points, hardness, and areas of use.

What is Steel?

Steel is an alloy consisting of iron as the main component, along with carbon. Carbon, present in a certain percentage in the micro-structure of steel, modifies the physical properties of iron. As a result of this combination, a material with higher strength, hardness, and durability is obtained compared to the natural properties of iron. In some types of steel, different elements are also added to improve or modify their properties. Thanks to these elements, steel types specific to various industrial applications are produced.

What are the Properties of Steel?

Steel is a material with high tensile strength, hardness, and durability. These properties make steel an ideal material for many applications. Its melting point is higher than that of pure iron, making it more resistant to high temperatures. The amount of carbon in steel greatly affects the properties of this metal. As the carbon percentage increases, hardness and strength also increase, but in this case, the ability of steel to be shaped decreases. Other alloying elements can also modify the properties of steel. For example, stainless steels are obtained by adding nickel or chromium. Elements such as manganese, molybdenum, and vanadium can also increase the hardness and durability of steel. Therefore, steels with different properties can be produced depending on the intended use of steel.

What are the Applications of Steel?

Steel is an indispensable material for many industries and applications. Automobile production ensures that vehicles are both lightweight and durable thanks to chassis and body parts made of steel. In the construction industry, steel beams, columns, and connectors allow the construction of high-rise buildings and wide-span structures.

In marine transportation, steel used in shipbuilding plays a critical role in the creation of structures that are resistant to marine conditions. Steel is also a preferred material in bridge construction due to its ability to close large spans and provide high carrying capacity.

In machine and tool manufacturing, steel finds a wide range of applications thanks to its excellent mechanical properties. It is used in various components, from the production of precision parts to large machine bodies.

In addition, steel pipes and fittings are used in energy and water transportation, steel rails and wagons are used in railway transportation, steel is used in the production of aircraft bodies and engine parts in the aerospace industry, and even in the medical sector, in the production of surgical instruments and implants. Steel plays an important role in many areas of the modern world thanks to its high strength, machinability, and durability.

How is steel made?

Steel is made through a series of processes starting with raw iron. In the first step, raw iron is melted at high temperatures and unwanted substances such as excess carbon, sulfur, and phosphorus are removed in this process. Then, steel is formed by adding carbon to the refined iron. The amount of carbon is adjusted according to the desired type and properties of steel. Sometimes, other elements are also added to change or improve the properties of steel, which allows for the creation of various types of steel.

Is steel a mixture?

Steel is actually defined as an alloy. An alloy is formed by combining two or more elements, usually metals, in specific proportions. In steel, the main component is iron, and it is combined with carbon, and sometimes other elements, to create different types of steel with different properties.

What is iron?

Iron is a metal element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26 on the periodic table. In nature, it is most commonly found in the form of iron ore, which is combined with oxygen. The most well-known of these ores are magnetite, hematite, limonite, and siderite. Pig iron is a type of crude iron with a high carbon content that is obtained by melting and reducing iron ore at high temperatures.

What are the Properties of Iron?

Iron has a number of characteristic properties, including a blue-gray luster, magnetic properties, and high conductivity of heat and electricity. Additionally, iron has a melting point of approximately 1538°C, making it well-suited for casting processes. Another property that makes this metal special is that it is very ductile, meaning that it can be easily shaped. Throughout history, iron has been used in a variety of applications due to its properties, and it continues to be a popular choice in many industries today.

What are the Applications of Iron?

Iron has a wide range of applications. The most common application is the production of steel, which is the main component of steel. Steel is obtained by using iron in an alloy with carbon and other elements to improve its properties

Pig iron, a type of iron with a high carbon content, is often preferred in casting applications. Due to pig iron's excellent castability, complex-shaped machine parts, engine blocks, pipes, and radiators are produced.

In the construction industry, iron is typically used in the production of steel reinforcement used in reinforced concrete structures. It is also used in the production of load-bearing systems such as bridges, rails, and structural elements.

Iron also plays an important role in the production of magnets, as it is a metal with natural magnetic properties. In the automotive industry, iron is also preferred for the production of some engine parts and chassis components.

How is Iron Produced?

Iron production is typically carried out by smelting iron ores at high temperatures. This process consists of several steps:

Ore Preparation: Iron ore is typically found in the form of oxides, and these oxides need to be reduced. First, the ore is ground to the desired size.

Coking: Coal is cooked at high temperatures in an oxygen-free environment to produce coke. Coke is used as a fuel and reducing agent in the reduction process.

Blast Furnace Process: A mixture of iron ore, limestone, and coke is charged into the blast furnace. Air is blown into the bottom of the furnace, which causes the coke to burn. The high temperature produced by this combustion melts the iron ore and initiates the reduction reaction. Iron oxide is reduced by coke to liquid iron.

Removal of Liquid Iron: Liquid iron and slag (waste material) are separately tapped from the bottom of the blast furnace. Liquid iron is cooled and solidified by pouring it into molds of desired shape and size.

Processing and Casting: The iron obtained can be used for casting or subjected to further processing for the production of different products.

This process results in pig iron. In subsequent processes, this iron can be combined with various alloys to produce steel or other iron alloys.

How Pig Iron Becomes Steel

The production of steel from pig iron is a complex process that involves the removal of excess carbon and other impurities. Here are the steps involved in this process:

Oxygen Blowing: The refining process is typically carried out in a converter. In the converter, high-purity oxygen is blown over the pig iron. This oxygen reacts with the excess carbon in the iron, forming carbon dioxide gas that is then released.

Removal of Impurities: During oxygen blowing, the sulfur, phosphorus, and other impurities in the pig iron form slag and float to the top. This slag is then skimmed off to remove it from the steel.

Addition of Alloying Elements: Various alloying elements are added to modify the properties of iron. For example, adding metals such as nickel, chromium, or molybdenum can produce stainless steel.

Casting of Refined Steel: At the end of the refining process, the resulting liquid steel is poured into molds of desired shape and size using a continuous casting process or traditional casting methods.

Cooling and Shaping: The cast steel is solidified and cooled. It is then converted into the desired product using hot or cold shaping methods.

As a result of these steps, the high carbon content of the pig iron is reduced, and steel, a durable and workable material, is obtained.

Is Steel or Iron Stronger?

When compared in terms of durability and strength, there are significant differences between steel and iron.

Steel is a basic component of iron, but the amount of carbon added to it greatly affects the mechanical properties of steel. Carbon increases the hardness and strength of steel. Therefore, steel can generally have different degrees of hardness and durability depending on its carbon content.

Iron is naturally quite soft and is not ideal in its pure form in terms of durability and hardness. However, steel, which is created by adding carbon to iron, hardens and increases its durability.

In addition, other alloying elements (for example, chromium, nickel, molybdenum) added to steel also modify the properties of steel and make it more suitable for specific applications.

In general, steel is harder and more durable than iron due to the addition of carbon and other alloying elements. Thanks to these properties, steel has a wider range of applications than iron and is the preferred material in many applications.