Carbon Steel: Properties, Production, Examples and Applications
Carbon steel is an iron-carbon alloy, which contains up to 2.1 wt.% carbon. For carbon steels, there is no minimum specified content of other alloying elements, however, they often contain manganese. The maximum manganese, silicon and copper content should be less than 1.65 wt.%, 0.6 wt.% and 0.6 wt.%, respectively.
Types of carbon steel and their properties
Carbon steel can be classified into three categories according to its carbon content: low-carbon steel (or mild-carbon steel), medium-carbon steel and high-carbon steel . Their carbon content, microstructure and properties compare as follows:
| Carbon content (wt.%) | Microstructure | Properties | Examples | 
| Low-carbon steel | < 0.25 | Ferrite, pearlite | Low hardness and cost. High ductility, toughness, machinability and weldability | 
| Medium-carbon steel | 0.25 – 0.60 | Martensite | Low hardenability, medium strength, ductility and toughness | 
| High-carbon steel | 0.60 – 1.25 | Pearlite | High hardness, strength, low ductility | 
Carbon Steel Description
Grade:
1)GB: Q195, Q215, Q235A, Q235B, Q235C, Q235D, Q255A, 255B, Q275, Q295A, Q295B, Q345B, Q345C, Q345D, Q345E, Q390A, Q390B, Q390C,Q390D, Q390E, Q420, Q420B, Q420C, Q420D, Q420E, Q460D, Q460E, Q500D, Q500E, Q550D, Q550E, Q620D, Q620E, Q690D, Q690E
2)EN: S185,S235JR, S275JR, S355JR, S420NL, S460NL S500Q, S550Q, S620Q, S690Q 
3)ASTM: Grade B, Grade C, Grade D, A36, Grade 36, Grade 40, Grade42, Grade 50, Grade 55, Grade 60, Grade 65, Grade 80 
4)JIS: SS330, SPHC, SS400, SPFC, SPHD, SPHE
PRODUCT DETAILS
| A53
  Seamless & Welded Carbon Steel Pipe Description | 
| ASTM A53 seamless steel pipe has high strength, good toughness, good
  processing performance and welding performance. A53 American standard seamless steel pipes are available in a
  wide range of specifications, with a wide range of outer diameters and wall
  thicknesses. Because ASTM A53 seamless carbon steel pipe has excellent
  material properties and good processing performance, it is widely used in
  petroleum, chemical industry, electric power, machinery manufacturing and
  other fields. For example, in the petrochemical industry, ASTM A53 steel
  pipes can be used to transport high-temperature and high-pressure oil, natural
  gas and other media. | 
| A53 Seamless & Welded Carbon Steel Pipe Description | 
| Product   Name | A53 Seamless & Welded Carbon Steel Pipe | 
| Standard | EN/DIN/JIS/ASTM/BS/ASME/AISI etc. | 
| Outer Diameter | Seamless: 1/4"-36" | Welding: 21.3mm-3620mm | 
| Round Tube: 1/2"-10" | Square   Tube/Rectangular Tube: 15x15mm-400x600mm | 
| Wall   Thickness | Seamless: 1.25mm-50mm | Welding: 1.65mm-65mm | 
| Length | 3-12 meters, Support customization | 
| Surface Process | Bright, Polished, Black | 
| Other   Services | Machining(cnc), Centerless Grinding(cg), Heat   Treatment, Annealing, Pickling, Polishing, Rolling, Forging, Cutting,   Bending, Small Machining, etc. | 
| Chemical Composition | 
| A53 | Grade | C | Mn | P | S | Cu | Ni | Cr | Mo | V | 
| TypeS(Seamless) | A | 0.25 | 0.95 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.15 | 0.08 | 
| B | 0.3 | 1.2 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.15 | 0.08 | 
| TypeE(Resistance Welding) | A | 0.25 | 0.95 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.15 | 0.08 | 
| B | 0.3 | 1.2 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.15 | 0.08 | 
| TypeF(Furnace Welding) | A | 0.3 | 1.2 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.15 | 0.08 | 
| Mechanical
  Properties | 
| A53 | GradeA | GradeB | 
| Tensile
  Strength Min.psi(MPa) | 48,000(330) | 60,000(415) | 
| Yield
  Strength Min.psi(MPa) | 30,000(205) | 35,000(240) | 
| Physical
  Performance | 
| Density 20°C | Modulus of Elasticity Kn/² mm | Coefficient
  of Thermal Conductivity 20°C | Heat
  Capacity 20°C | Resistivity 20°C | 
| Kg/dm³ | 20C° | 300C° | 400C° | 450C° | W/m K | J/kg K | Ωmm²/m | 
| 7.85 | 210 | 192 | 184 | 179 | 51 | 461 | 0.2 | 
| Scope of
  Application | 
| Construction:
  underground pipeline, underground water, hot water transmission, mechanical
  processing, bearing sleeve, processing machinery parts, etc. | 
| Electrical:
  natural gas transmission, hydroelectric fluid pipelines, anti-static pipes
  for wind farms, etc. |