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Carbon strengthens iron/steel by distorting its crystal latice. It is unfortunately a very complex effect and depends on how the steel is heat treated and exactly what percentage of carbon is added, to much could make it weaker also.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoFirstly, steel is made up of carbon (0 -2 %) and iron (98-99%).
The carbon, when mixed with molten iron,in fixed proportions, steel of varying strengths are formed. Steel is strong since the carbon atoms enter the metallic lattice of iron; the difference in size of the carbon and iron atoms restrict movement of the layers (atoms) hence when a force is applied, the steel resists.
by Oidz x x
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoIt isn't. Carbon is the cheapest thing you can alloy steel with. The hardest steels are iron alloys that contain a variety of other metals, usually things like chromium and nickel.
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Why is quartz harder than steel?
Why is quartz harder steel
Is steal a heterogeneous mixture?
Yes, stainless steel is a mixture of iron and carbon.
What is the hardest manufactured material?
steel boron carbide is stronger than steel I do believe To date, probably carbon nanorods. Carbon is strongest, but in might be nanorods, nanotubes, or fiber. I'm not sure. A particular arrangement of carbon called Lonsdaleite (both naturally occurring in trace amounts and manufactured) is the hardest known material to date. pure samples have been recorded to be 58% harder than diamond, however when found naturally, impurities cause the Mohs Hardness to be only 7-8 (diamond is 10 on this scale).
Is fibreglass stronger than steel?
No fiberglass is not stronger than steel, the same way it can be the same way how u break glass but not that easy
Does carbon react with steel?
Carbon react with iron forming carbides in steel.
Why carbon is better then any other for steel?
It is required to make steel the more carbon the steel contains the harder and stronger it will get, if you have to much carbon the steel will be brittle and crack easy. carbon is a good element to bond with becuase it has four bonds
Which is stronger 1010 carbon steel or 1015 carbon steel?
1015 is stronger
What is high carbon steels?
Steel is a mixture of iron with a small amount (typically less than 2%) of carbon. Increasing the amount of carbon makes high-carbon steel, which is harder and stronger, but more brittle.
Is a diamond stronger than steel?
Yes. Actually... a diamond is NOT 'stronger' than steel. A diamond is 'harder' than steel, but it is not stronger.
What is the difference between carbon steel and copper?
Carbon Steel is much stronger metal.
When elements are combined to form compounds do their properties change?
Almost all elements can be combined into compounds, for example water=h20 steel=iron and carbon. Their properties usually change. For example when carbon is added to iron to make steel, it becomes stronger and more durable. Humans use compounds to our advantage, adding various elements to materials to make them water proof, stronger, more flexible, harder e.g
What is 5 times harder than a metal?
What is 5 times stronger than metal? Steel - Because steel is a compound which steel is like a hard rock! Unbreakable! Steel can be even harder then ever which means it can be stronger then 5 more like 100 but that is only SOME types! Steel is way harder, yes 5 times harder!
Is 316 stainless steel pipe harder than A106 carbon steel pipe?
316 is softer than carbon steel
What is stronger carbon steel or titanium nitride?
Titanium
Is Titanium nitride or carbon steel stronger?
Titanium
Why is bolt cutters jaws made from high carbon steel?
When you are cutting or drilling metal, it works best when the metal you are cutting or drilling with is harder than the metal you are cutting. Adding carbon to the steel makes it harder (also more brittle), and since bolt cutters are usually cutting metal, making the jaws from a high carbon steel makes them able to cut more metals than if regular steel, and it will also cut with less force/effort.
Is steel stronger than aluminum?
It heavily depends on which type of stainless steel you're referring to and what your definition of strong is. High carbon and perhaps plain carbon steels would be harder then austenite and ferritic stainless, but martensitic stainless would be harder then plain/high carbon. Austenite and ferritic stainless would be tougher and austenite would have have highest degree of corrosion resistance. I consider a steel to be "strong" if it has a balance of hardness and toughness in which case,I would say martensitic stainless steels.
