Steel is a general term for ferroalloys. Its carbon content is 0.02% to 2.04% in quality. The chemical composition of steel can vary greatly. Carbon-only steel is called carbon steel (carbon steel) or common steel. In actual production, steel usually contains different alloying elements, such as manganese, according to its application. Nickel, Vanadium, etc.


Iron-carbon alloys containing less than 2% carbon can be divided into carbon steel and alloy steel according to their composition. According to its properties and applications, it can be divided into structural steel, tool steel and special steel.


Carbon steel mainly refers to steel whose carbon mass fraction is less than 2.11% and does not contain alloy elements intended to be added. Sometimes it is also called carbon steel or carbon steel. Carbon steel does not contain effective alloying elements. It is an alloy containing iron, carbon and manganese as the main elements. Mechanical properties are usually inferior to alloy steel.


Carbon steel is usually called carbon structural steel. According to the carbon content, it can be divided into low-carbon steel, medium-carbon steel and high-carbon steel. The carbon content is 0.2-0.7% or even higher. Carbon steel is usually not corrosion resistant and is used in various structures due to its low cost (relative to stainless steel).


Stainless steel is an alloy steel that is resistant to weak corrosive media (such as air, steam, water) and chemical etching media (such as acid, alkali and salt). The corrosion resistance of stainless steel depends on the alloy elements contained in the steel. The basic alloying elements of stainless steel are nickel, molybdenum, titanium, niobium, copper and nitrogen.


Stainless steel belongs to alloy steel, high alloy steel containing a lot of chromium, as well as a lot of nickel and a certain amount of titanium. The role of chromium is to make steel corrosion resistant, while the role of nickel is to reduce the austenitizing temperature of stainless steel. The total content of alloying elements can reach 10-28%, which is a kind of high alloy steel.


Common stainless steel is mainly austenitic stainless steel, such as 0Cr18Ni9. Carbon content is low, but alloy element content is higher than 20%, chromium content is 18-20%, Ni content is 8-10%, and there are elements such as vanadium, molybdenum and titanium. The addition of these alloying elements has been greatly improved. It has oxidation resistance and thermal stability, but these alloys are precious metals. So the price is also very expensive.


Stainless steel is used in highly corrosive media, especially in foods requiring high annular conditions, as well as pharmaceutical, daily chemical and other industries. Of course, the chemical industry is also widely used. However, austenitic stainless steel is most afraid of chloride ion, and chloride ion is very strict in the control of water in the environment.


Carbon steel is low cost, easy to rust, short use time, stainless steel is not easy to rust, long use time, smooth surface.