what is steel

Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon with improved strength and fracture resistance compared to other forms of iron. It is the worlds most important engineering and construction material, used in every aspect of our lives, from cars and construction products to refrigerators and washing machines. Steel is produced via two main routes: the blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) route and electric arc furnace (EAF) route. The base metal of steel is iron, and carbon is added to it to create multiple grades of steel alloys with varying properties. Other elements such as chromium, manganese, and nickel can also be added to steel to improve its properties. Carbon steel, composed simply of iron and carbon, accounts for 90% of steel production, while low alloy steel is alloyed with other elements, usually molybdenum, manganese, chromium, or nickel, in amounts of up to 10% by weight to improve the hardenability of thick sections. Alloy steels are plain-carbon steels in which small amounts of alloying elements like chromium and vanadium have been added. Steel is completely recyclable, possesses great durability, and requires relatively low amounts of energy to produce.