Steel is the Strongest Material for Modern Construction
The Advantages of Steel and It’s Composition
Steel is, by far, the preferred material for most types of construction projects in the world today. All types of modern construction depend on the qualities of steel to lend reliability, longevity, and beauty to these types of projects. From bridges to skyscrapers, steel is the obvious choice to produce the strongest and most durable projects. The strength of steel is a clear requirement for structural integrity in large building and bridge construction.
The beautiful architectural features of modern buildings and bridges is accomplished by including steel beams, joists, columns, studs, etc. into the design of these structures. However, modern families are also discovering the benefits of incorporating steel frame construction into the design of their new home construction and addition plans.
Steel is becoming the new standard for designing beautiful, durable homes that can withstand the ravages of time without bending, buckling, or succumbing to collapse or the total devastation of natural disasters.
The properties of steel are mainly affected by:
- Chemical Composition
- Heat Treatment
- Manufacturing Method/Process
The many advantages of steel include:
- Allows for Larger Projects
- Can be formed to any shape
- Clean and Chemical-Free
- Does Not Warp, Twist, or Shrink
- Easy Metal-to-Metal Connection
- Minimal Waste and Easily Recycled
- Non-Combustible
- Superior Strength to Weight Ratio
- Termite and Pest-Proof
From bridges to
skyscrapers steel is the
obvious choice
It’s the strongest and
most durable material
for construction
Carbon Steel (Structural Steel)
Carbon steel (most structural steel) is composed of varying percentages of iron and carbon. Low, Mid, and High grades of carbon steel compositions exist, with carbon content typically ranging from 0.3% to 1.5%. Trace amounts of other alloy metals exist in carbon steel. Iron-carbon is considered steel when it contains up to 2.1% carbon (beyond that, it is considered to be cast iron).
These elements and others are added to adjust and improve the properties of the steel according to it’s end use. Phosphorus and Sulfur are typically undesirable. Efforts are made during production to eliminate them from the final product.
Alloy steels have larger quantities of various additional metals in them (other than iron and carbon) that can have significant effects on the final qualities of the steel.
These other metals commonly include:
- Aluminum (Deoxidizes)
- Chromium (Hardenability & Corrosion Resistance)
- Copper (Corrosion Resistance)
- Manganese (Wear Resistance & Strength)
- Nickel (Impact, Toughness, & Corrosion Resistance)
- Niobium (Strength)
- Silicon (Strength & Elasticity)
- Titanium (Strength & Corrosion Resistance)
- Vanadium (Strength)
