Due its mechanical structure, low carbon steel plates are often used as a general-purpose tooling metal because of the ease of machinability. It is ideal for drilling, grinding, and tapping. Carbon steel also provides exceptional welding properties.
As a trusted carbon steel plate supplier, Alro Steel stocks ASTM A-36 carbon hot-rolled steel. We also have carbon steel plates available in a variety of steel grade options.
About Carbon Steel
Carbon levels are divided as follows:
low carbon = .06% to .25% carbon content (mild steel)
medium carbon = .25% to .55% carbon content (medium steel)
high carbon = >.55% to 1.00% carbon content (hard steel)
Steel is commonly considered carbon steel when no minimum content is specified for any alloying element (for example, aluminum, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, vanadium, etc.) or any other element added to obtain a desired alloy effect. The manganese does not exceed 1.65%, the specified minimum for copper in not below .40% or exceed .60% and silicon does not exceed .60%.
Benefits of Carbon Steel Plates
Carbon steel is most often mild or hot-rolled steel. As a corrosion-resistant and abrasion-resistant steel, carbon steel plates are well suited for applications requiring durability against stress as well as environmental stressors when used for outdoor purposes. Additional benefits of carbon steel plates include:
- Versatility when compared to other steel sheets. Steel plates are available in a wide selection of thicknesses and widths
- Great ductility
- Cost-effective alternative to aluminum or stainless steel
- Malleable and easy to fabricate
- Can be galvanized for corrosion-resistance
Carbon Steel Plate Stock Grades
10XX = non-resulpherized carbon steel, with manganese 1.00% maximum (for example 1018, 1045 and 1050).
11XX = resulpherized carbon steel (for example 1117, 1141 and 1144).
12XX = rephosphorized and resulpherized carbon steel (for example 12L14 and 1215).
The second two numbers in AISI-SAE designations indicate the approximate carbon content for steel (for example, in 1018 the carbon range is .15% to .20%; .18% [shown as “18”] is the approximate carbon content).
Common Carbon Steel shapes are Bars, Pipe, Tube, Plate, Sheet, and Structural (Angle, Channel, Beams, Tees, and Re-bar/Re-rod). See our product listing table below to see the wide range of grades we offer -
