What happens if the percentage of carbon used to make steel is increased?

Answer 1

Steels with higher carbon content display higher strength and hardness values. Carbon, in the form of carbides, prevents slips and dislocations through dispersion strengthening. Consequently, increasing carbon also tends to decrease melting temperature as the iron content is decreased. As evidenced by the phase diagram, iron (Fe) has a higher melting temperature than carbide (Fe3C) [you can look up an Fe-Fe3C phase diagram for reference].

Dispersion strengthening: Small particles (or carbides, in this case) located on grain boundaries and inside grains effectively block dislocation movement and grain boundary sliding. Dispersion-hardened alloys typically display rapid strain hardening and good creep resistance.

Answer 2

Generally speaking, malleability decreases with an increase in Carbon... saying that, Steel X with a higher Carbon content than Steel Y could potentially be softened to that lower than Steel Y...

Answer 3

The melting point of steel goes down to a lower temperature when the proportion of carbon is increased. The steel becomes harder and is not as easy to weld as lower-carbon steel.

Answer 4

The more carbon the harder the steel, but too much carbon gives brittle cast iron instead of steel.

Answer 5

Carbon has very strong bonds so when it is added to different metal compounds it makes the bonds between its atoms stronger as well